December 08, 1941
Thayne's News Network
Editor's Note: In times of war, the news is likely to be filled with all sorts of rumor and exaggeration. The goal of the Thayne News Network is to cut through the fog of war, and provide you, our loyal readers, with as accurate a report of events on the front line as we can.
JAPANESE ATTACK PEARL HARBOR
(TN - Hawaii) At dawn, several hundred airplanes from Japan struck at the U.S. Naval Station at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The base, located just outside of the capital city of Honolulu on the island of Oahu, sustained over two hours of continual air bombardment. U.S. Army installations, particularly its airfields, were also attacked.
In spite of the element of surprise, over two dozen Army Air Corps pilots were able to get to their planes and get into the air. This was not nearly enough to slow the massive assault.
Thayne News sources were unable to substantiate any reports that the Japanese had used a shallow-water torpedo in the attack. In addition, we have confirmed that the commander of the American fleet in the Pacific had ordered that the torpedo nets be set around the battleships the night before.
Still, Japanese bombs were able to inflict significant damage on a number of American warships. At last report, the battleship Tennessee was heavily damaged, and all eight American battleships in port have been knocked out of the war for the foreseeable future. Over a dozen support ships also suffered damage in the attack.
Thayne News sources were only able to confirm the loss of 41 Japanese airplanes in the assault. In return, the Japanese destroyed almost 200 Allied airplanes -- most of them on the ground.
Clarke Field Attacked; Philippines Invaded
The Japanese also attacked the main American military base in the Philippines, Clark Air Force Base. Though Douglas McArthur ordered all airplanes in the air as soon as he heard the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Japanese delayed their attack until the American planes needed to refuel. As a result, only a hand full of American airplanes met the attackers, and the Japanese were able to destroy over 75 airplanes, as well as destroying the runways and other ground installations.
Japanese soldiers made simultaneous landings on three parts of the Philippines main island of Luzon; the ports of Vigan and Aparri in the north, and Legaspi in the south. All landings were accompanied by heavy support from naval bombardment and aerial attack. The Japanese demonstrated complete control over the air and water surrounding the islands.
Wake, Guam, and other U.S. Protectorates in the Pacific Attacked
The Japanese also landed on the Pacific island of Wake. Reliable reports indicate that the 1st USMC Defense Battalion delivered several hits against the Japanese destroyer Kisaragi. This was the only reliable report of damage against the Japanese navy received in the opening day of the conflict. The Americans were able to deliver a significant setback to the Japanese dreams of conquest by holding off the invaders and inflicting a significant number of casualties. Given initial reports, Allied command expressed confidence that the marines will hold onto the island.
American forces on the island of Guam also came under attack. The Japanese cruisers Kako, Furutaka, Kinugasa, and Aoba were reportedly involved in the shelling that hit the U.S.S. minesweeper Penguin, as well as a number of airfield and port facilities.
Destroyers also shelled Batan Island, north of the Philippines, in preparation to landings there, damaging the runway and port facilities on that island. By day's end, the Japanese had secured this strategic island.
Singapore Attacked; Malaysia Invaded
The Japanese aggression also included a well coordinated attack on the British colony of Singapore. 100 Japanese bombers showed up at dawn with fighter escort, dropping over 50 tons of bombs onto the city from a height of three miles. British fighters tried to intercept the attack, but were outnumbered by Japanese pilots flying the much more maneuverable 'Zero' fighters.
Over two dozen British airplanes were destroyed on the ground. Only two Japanese 'Nell' bombers were reported as being shot down in the raid.
The bombings coincided with landings on the Malaysian coast, 250 miles north of Singapore, at the town of Khota Bharu. In spite of the Singapore attack, British air forces were able to launch a number of air attacks against the landing craft. Though other news sources reported significant damage against Japanese landing craft, Thayne News was unable to confirm any of the reported damage.
Those landings were supported by at least two big battleships that pilots identified as the Haruna and the Kongo.
The British colony of Hong Kong, on mainland China, was also bombed. The garrison in that city was put on alert against what is seen as an inevitable assault from Japanese forces in mainland China. Hong Kong remains the only port on the Chinese coast not under Japanese control.
Thayne News Campaign Reports
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RE: Thayne News Campaign Reports
Nice way to lay out you AAR dude. I enjoy reading them when they are narrated, so to speak.
There are only two kinds of people that understand Marines: Marines and the enemy. Everyone else has a second-hand opinion.
Gen. William Thornson, U.S. Army
Gen. William Thornson, U.S. Army
USS TENNESSEE LOST
December 09. 1941
Thayne's News Network
Editor's Note: In times of war, the news is likely to be filled with all sorts of rumor and exaggeration. The goal of the Thayne News Network is to cut through the fog of war, and provide you, our loyal readers, with as accurate a report of events on the front line as we can.
USS TENNESSEE LOST
(TN - Hawaii) Navy fire teams abandoned attempts to save the USS Tennessee last night when fires caused by the Japanese bombing threatened ammunition and fuel stores within the ship. The Tennessee received over nine bomb hits during of the attack. Several of the bombs penetrated its deck armor and ignited fires deep within the ship. By late evening, fires started to threaten ammunition and fuel stores on the ship. Admiral Kimmel gave orders to abandon ship at 10:37. Twelve minutes later, heavy explosions convulsed the ship and she settled quickly to the bottom of the harbor.
When asked if an attempt would be made to salvage her, Kimell said, "There's not enough left of her to salvage."
Rescue operations are proceeding on the other ships damaged in the attack. Navy Department spokesmen said that they are determined that all remaining ships damaged in the attack will have an opportunity for revenge against the Japanese empire.
America Responds
In the aftermath of the attack, Americans immediately took steps to prepare to come to the aid of those who were wounded at Pearl Harbor. By sundown, the transport ship Shooting Star was declared a mercy ship. All available surplus medical equipment was being loaded onto the ship as quickly as possible, Crews worked throughout the night to make the ship ready to sail. Over 100 doctors and nurses volunteered to travel with the equipment to Hawaii to help those wounded in the attack.
At the same time, senior military officials said that they were taking every possible step to bring the country up to full war readiness. Attempting to assure a public made fearful by the attack on Pearl Harbor, General Bachurek reported that bringing west-coast military units up to full military preparedness would be his first priority. He ordered all military personnel to report to their stations immediately, and that all reserve equipment go first to units responsible for homeland defense. He said that all US-based military units should be up to full combat effectiveness in a few days.
Unnamed sources associated with General Bachurek's command reports that there is bitter disagreement over the decision, with several junior officers arguing that the equipment should go to the front line troops. It is said that Bucharek, privately, agreed with these sentiments, but felt politically compelled to assign the priorities as he did.
Call to Service Answered Across the Pacific
General Blamey, commander of the Australian command also responded to the new Japanese aggression by calling for his units to obtain full readiness. Domestic military units, depleted in recent years by the war in Europe, would be given a priority for all new military equipment. The Dutch East Indies called up all reserves and ordered the distribution of live rounds and ammunition to all units on station.
Philippine, Malaysia Combat Lines Reinforced
Determined to make the Japanese pay for every square inch of Philippine land they take, General McArthur ordered fresh units to the front to repel the Japanese invaders; while, at the same time, he prepared for the eventual need to defend the capital of Manilla itself. Unnamed sources associated with McArthur's command conceded that they face a significantly larger and better equipped foe, able to get fresh troops and supplies daily from their home islands nearby. But they insist that they will make the Japanese pay a very high price for the Pearl of the Orient.
A similar fighting spirit has gripped the country of Malaysia. Though recognizing that he may well be forced to the island fortress of Singapore, Lieutenant General Percival, the commander of the Malaysian Army, announced that he will be pushing back. He ordered reinforcements forward to challenge the Japanese wherever they may be found, while air units on Singapore and across the country continued to harrass the enemy.
Japanese reinforcements continued to come ashore at Khota Bharu in Malaysia, and on the northern Luzan coast in the Philippines. At Appari, in the Philippines, the Japanese were able to fully secure their landing beaches, allowing them to unload reinforcements out of range of allied artillery. 100 miles west, the Japanese also gained uncontested control of the port of Vigan. With these successes, the 103rd and 104th Base Forces at Laoag have been cut off from any opportunity to retreat, other than over the rugged mountains in the central part of the island. McArthur ordered his forces to secure their safety.
Japanese Continue to Advance
Wake Island continues to hold against a determined Japanese attack, delivering damage to a second Japanese destroyer.
In the Philippines, Japanese air attacks on the allied fleet assembling at Iiailo inflicted significant damage on the light cruiser Boise. The cruiser took two bombs and was last reported fighting for its life against significant onboard fires. Allied pilots, on the other hand, were not able to score any noticeable damage against Japanese landing craft in north Malayia in spite of repeated air attacks.
Also in the Philippines, the cargo ships Dos Hermanos, Elcano, and Taurus stumbled into a Japanese invasion force consisting of a light cruiser and a half dozen destroyers off of the coast of Lagespi. The Japanese task force used the three ships for gunnery training, sinking all three ships in a little under an hour.
The Japanese began their expected attack against the British colony of Hong Kong. The city's defenders held off an assault from a Japanese force that outnumbered them two to one.
********************************
Player Notes: I have introduced the following house rules:
(1) For political reasons, all Ground and Air Units on the U.S. West Coast, in Australia, and on the DEI island of Java must be set to accept reinforcements. Denying reinforcements to these units so that more reinforcements will be available to forward units is not to be permitted. the voters at home simply would not stand for this.
(2) Other locations, such as Pearl Harbor, Anchorage, and similar places, cannot be set to accept reinforcements until after a cargo shipped has docked there and delivered replacements. Until then, 'no reinforcements' must be set.
(3) The maximum number of ships that can be loaded at a port = (gameturn - 1), with all USA west coast ports counting as 1 port for the purpose of this rule. This is to simulate the difficulty in getting a huge war machine up to speed.
(4) Only ground units in Malaysia, Philippines, China, and Central Pacific can move until December 14th. This represents the difficulty in deciding what to do, getting orders to the units, and getting the units organized to act on those orders.
Thayne's News Network
Editor's Note: In times of war, the news is likely to be filled with all sorts of rumor and exaggeration. The goal of the Thayne News Network is to cut through the fog of war, and provide you, our loyal readers, with as accurate a report of events on the front line as we can.
USS TENNESSEE LOST
(TN - Hawaii) Navy fire teams abandoned attempts to save the USS Tennessee last night when fires caused by the Japanese bombing threatened ammunition and fuel stores within the ship. The Tennessee received over nine bomb hits during of the attack. Several of the bombs penetrated its deck armor and ignited fires deep within the ship. By late evening, fires started to threaten ammunition and fuel stores on the ship. Admiral Kimmel gave orders to abandon ship at 10:37. Twelve minutes later, heavy explosions convulsed the ship and she settled quickly to the bottom of the harbor.
When asked if an attempt would be made to salvage her, Kimell said, "There's not enough left of her to salvage."
Rescue operations are proceeding on the other ships damaged in the attack. Navy Department spokesmen said that they are determined that all remaining ships damaged in the attack will have an opportunity for revenge against the Japanese empire.
America Responds
In the aftermath of the attack, Americans immediately took steps to prepare to come to the aid of those who were wounded at Pearl Harbor. By sundown, the transport ship Shooting Star was declared a mercy ship. All available surplus medical equipment was being loaded onto the ship as quickly as possible, Crews worked throughout the night to make the ship ready to sail. Over 100 doctors and nurses volunteered to travel with the equipment to Hawaii to help those wounded in the attack.
At the same time, senior military officials said that they were taking every possible step to bring the country up to full war readiness. Attempting to assure a public made fearful by the attack on Pearl Harbor, General Bachurek reported that bringing west-coast military units up to full military preparedness would be his first priority. He ordered all military personnel to report to their stations immediately, and that all reserve equipment go first to units responsible for homeland defense. He said that all US-based military units should be up to full combat effectiveness in a few days.
Unnamed sources associated with General Bachurek's command reports that there is bitter disagreement over the decision, with several junior officers arguing that the equipment should go to the front line troops. It is said that Bucharek, privately, agreed with these sentiments, but felt politically compelled to assign the priorities as he did.
Call to Service Answered Across the Pacific
General Blamey, commander of the Australian command also responded to the new Japanese aggression by calling for his units to obtain full readiness. Domestic military units, depleted in recent years by the war in Europe, would be given a priority for all new military equipment. The Dutch East Indies called up all reserves and ordered the distribution of live rounds and ammunition to all units on station.
Philippine, Malaysia Combat Lines Reinforced
Determined to make the Japanese pay for every square inch of Philippine land they take, General McArthur ordered fresh units to the front to repel the Japanese invaders; while, at the same time, he prepared for the eventual need to defend the capital of Manilla itself. Unnamed sources associated with McArthur's command conceded that they face a significantly larger and better equipped foe, able to get fresh troops and supplies daily from their home islands nearby. But they insist that they will make the Japanese pay a very high price for the Pearl of the Orient.
A similar fighting spirit has gripped the country of Malaysia. Though recognizing that he may well be forced to the island fortress of Singapore, Lieutenant General Percival, the commander of the Malaysian Army, announced that he will be pushing back. He ordered reinforcements forward to challenge the Japanese wherever they may be found, while air units on Singapore and across the country continued to harrass the enemy.
Japanese reinforcements continued to come ashore at Khota Bharu in Malaysia, and on the northern Luzan coast in the Philippines. At Appari, in the Philippines, the Japanese were able to fully secure their landing beaches, allowing them to unload reinforcements out of range of allied artillery. 100 miles west, the Japanese also gained uncontested control of the port of Vigan. With these successes, the 103rd and 104th Base Forces at Laoag have been cut off from any opportunity to retreat, other than over the rugged mountains in the central part of the island. McArthur ordered his forces to secure their safety.
Japanese Continue to Advance
Wake Island continues to hold against a determined Japanese attack, delivering damage to a second Japanese destroyer.
In the Philippines, Japanese air attacks on the allied fleet assembling at Iiailo inflicted significant damage on the light cruiser Boise. The cruiser took two bombs and was last reported fighting for its life against significant onboard fires. Allied pilots, on the other hand, were not able to score any noticeable damage against Japanese landing craft in north Malayia in spite of repeated air attacks.
Also in the Philippines, the cargo ships Dos Hermanos, Elcano, and Taurus stumbled into a Japanese invasion force consisting of a light cruiser and a half dozen destroyers off of the coast of Lagespi. The Japanese task force used the three ships for gunnery training, sinking all three ships in a little under an hour.
The Japanese began their expected attack against the British colony of Hong Kong. The city's defenders held off an assault from a Japanese force that outnumbered them two to one.
********************************
Player Notes: I have introduced the following house rules:
(1) For political reasons, all Ground and Air Units on the U.S. West Coast, in Australia, and on the DEI island of Java must be set to accept reinforcements. Denying reinforcements to these units so that more reinforcements will be available to forward units is not to be permitted. the voters at home simply would not stand for this.
(2) Other locations, such as Pearl Harbor, Anchorage, and similar places, cannot be set to accept reinforcements until after a cargo shipped has docked there and delivered replacements. Until then, 'no reinforcements' must be set.
(3) The maximum number of ships that can be loaded at a port = (gameturn - 1), with all USA west coast ports counting as 1 port for the purpose of this rule. This is to simulate the difficulty in getting a huge war machine up to speed.
(4) Only ground units in Malaysia, Philippines, China, and Central Pacific can move until December 14th. This represents the difficulty in deciding what to do, getting orders to the units, and getting the units organized to act on those orders.
CHAOS RULES CENTRAL PACIFIC
December 10, 1941
Thayne's News Network
Editor's Note: In times of war, the news is likely to be filled with all sorts of rumor and exaggeration. The goal of the Thayne News Network is to cut through the fog of war, and provide you, our loyal readers, with as accurate a report of events on the front line as we can.
The Thayne News Network is a special service for the clients in the military industrial complex who need accurate information on the progress of the war. Any disclosure of the contents of these reports is punishable as treason.
CHAOS RULES CENTRAL PACIFIC
(TN - Hawaii) Unnamed sources in Central Pacific headquarters today spoke of friction between the Central Pacific commander and Vice Admiral Brown on board the Lexington. According to reports, Kimmel ordered the Lexington to an undisclosed location, and later was shocked to discover that those orders had not been carried out. Sources say that Brown is claiming that he never received new orders, and was proceeding on his previous known instructions. This is a common tactic used by subordinate officers to ignore orders that they do not agree with, and Kimmel is reported to be suspicious of Brown’s motives.
Former Navy captain James Appleton, who recently retired from the service and who served at Headquarters says that it is unlikely that Vice Admiral Brown would disobey a direct order. “If we were talking about Vice Admiral Halsey, I would be suspicious. We all know which instructions Halsey would have preferred, and failure to get the second set of instructions would have been convenient. But we’re not talking about Halsey here.”
Appleton said that he was more concerned with the implications of this breakdown in communication. If these people can’t learn to talk to each other, we can expect somebody to either not receive or not obey an order when the consequences could be catastrophic,” Brown said. “These people have to be more careful. There is a lot at stake, now.”
REPULSE, PRINCE OF WALES TORPEDOED AT MALAYSIA
The heart of the British fleet in the Pacific was attacked yesterday by torpedo bombers off of the coast of Malaysia. The Prince of Wales took three torpedoes, inflicting severe damage. At last report, the ship was floating low in the water and limping back to Singapore. Its partner ship, the Repulse, also took a torpedo in the side, though its damage is far less significant.
Also at sea, Sub Command reports that it has lost contact with the SS Porpoise. Sent to patrol off of the east coast of the Philippines, the submarine was looking for the carrier force supporting the Japanese invasion of Legaspi.
Exchange of Blows in Northern Malaysia
British bombers in Malaysia were able to improve their marksman ship against the invasion fleet in northern Malaysia, inflicting damage on the Japanese cruiser Kumano and a transport ship supporting the assault. At the same time, the Japanese air force continued to fight for air supremacy in the region by attacking several air bases in the region, inflicting significant damage on ground facilities and the air units stationed there.
America’s Defense Solidifies
All coastal defense units reported in by dusk that they could not be more fully prepared to meet any Japanese aggression. “Citizens from Seattle to San Diego can rest comfortably that our coastal defenses are at peak readiness,” said General Bachurek. Bachurek also ordered that artillery pieces held in reserve stockpiles be distributed to forward units. Everything from 155mm field guns to 37mm anti-tank guns found new homes among West Coast military units. Thayne News reporters were able to confirm the delivery of no less than 69 artillery pieces to west coast units in the last twelve hours.
All across the United States, the military war machine is picking up speed. Aircraft manufacturing plants from Ohio and Pennsylvania began loading spare parts for the airplanes damaged in the attack on Pearl Harbor onto trucks and planes for delivery to the coast. Soldiers whose units are serving in Hawaii and across the Pacific, who were on leave in the United States, sought whatever transportation they could find to get back to their units and get back to the war. In San Francisco, military longshoremen could be seen busily preparing two more military transport ships with deliveries to the war front.
Numerous Enemy Submarines Attacked at Hawaii
The U.S. Navy reported no less than 18 air attacks against enemy submarines off of the coast of Hawaii in the last twenty-four hours. Central Fleet headquarters in Hawaii estimate that Japan has at least 11 submarines off of the coast. There are no reports of damage to any enemy submarine as a result of any of these attacks, but it is hoped that the attacks will keep the enemy submarines deep and keep the waters safe for American ships. Central Pacific headquarters also reported that they are organizing additional activity to deal with these threats. Admiral Kimmel said that the submarine threat will be properly dealt with well before supplies from the West Coast arrive at the islands.
Thayne's News Network
Editor's Note: In times of war, the news is likely to be filled with all sorts of rumor and exaggeration. The goal of the Thayne News Network is to cut through the fog of war, and provide you, our loyal readers, with as accurate a report of events on the front line as we can.
The Thayne News Network is a special service for the clients in the military industrial complex who need accurate information on the progress of the war. Any disclosure of the contents of these reports is punishable as treason.
CHAOS RULES CENTRAL PACIFIC
(TN - Hawaii) Unnamed sources in Central Pacific headquarters today spoke of friction between the Central Pacific commander and Vice Admiral Brown on board the Lexington. According to reports, Kimmel ordered the Lexington to an undisclosed location, and later was shocked to discover that those orders had not been carried out. Sources say that Brown is claiming that he never received new orders, and was proceeding on his previous known instructions. This is a common tactic used by subordinate officers to ignore orders that they do not agree with, and Kimmel is reported to be suspicious of Brown’s motives.
Former Navy captain James Appleton, who recently retired from the service and who served at Headquarters says that it is unlikely that Vice Admiral Brown would disobey a direct order. “If we were talking about Vice Admiral Halsey, I would be suspicious. We all know which instructions Halsey would have preferred, and failure to get the second set of instructions would have been convenient. But we’re not talking about Halsey here.”
Appleton said that he was more concerned with the implications of this breakdown in communication. If these people can’t learn to talk to each other, we can expect somebody to either not receive or not obey an order when the consequences could be catastrophic,” Brown said. “These people have to be more careful. There is a lot at stake, now.”
REPULSE, PRINCE OF WALES TORPEDOED AT MALAYSIA
The heart of the British fleet in the Pacific was attacked yesterday by torpedo bombers off of the coast of Malaysia. The Prince of Wales took three torpedoes, inflicting severe damage. At last report, the ship was floating low in the water and limping back to Singapore. Its partner ship, the Repulse, also took a torpedo in the side, though its damage is far less significant.
Also at sea, Sub Command reports that it has lost contact with the SS Porpoise. Sent to patrol off of the east coast of the Philippines, the submarine was looking for the carrier force supporting the Japanese invasion of Legaspi.
Exchange of Blows in Northern Malaysia
British bombers in Malaysia were able to improve their marksman ship against the invasion fleet in northern Malaysia, inflicting damage on the Japanese cruiser Kumano and a transport ship supporting the assault. At the same time, the Japanese air force continued to fight for air supremacy in the region by attacking several air bases in the region, inflicting significant damage on ground facilities and the air units stationed there.
America’s Defense Solidifies
All coastal defense units reported in by dusk that they could not be more fully prepared to meet any Japanese aggression. “Citizens from Seattle to San Diego can rest comfortably that our coastal defenses are at peak readiness,” said General Bachurek. Bachurek also ordered that artillery pieces held in reserve stockpiles be distributed to forward units. Everything from 155mm field guns to 37mm anti-tank guns found new homes among West Coast military units. Thayne News reporters were able to confirm the delivery of no less than 69 artillery pieces to west coast units in the last twelve hours.
All across the United States, the military war machine is picking up speed. Aircraft manufacturing plants from Ohio and Pennsylvania began loading spare parts for the airplanes damaged in the attack on Pearl Harbor onto trucks and planes for delivery to the coast. Soldiers whose units are serving in Hawaii and across the Pacific, who were on leave in the United States, sought whatever transportation they could find to get back to their units and get back to the war. In San Francisco, military longshoremen could be seen busily preparing two more military transport ships with deliveries to the war front.
Numerous Enemy Submarines Attacked at Hawaii
The U.S. Navy reported no less than 18 air attacks against enemy submarines off of the coast of Hawaii in the last twenty-four hours. Central Fleet headquarters in Hawaii estimate that Japan has at least 11 submarines off of the coast. There are no reports of damage to any enemy submarine as a result of any of these attacks, but it is hoped that the attacks will keep the enemy submarines deep and keep the waters safe for American ships. Central Pacific headquarters also reported that they are organizing additional activity to deal with these threats. Admiral Kimmel said that the submarine threat will be properly dealt with well before supplies from the West Coast arrive at the islands.
RE: CHAOS RULES CENTRAL PACIFIC
Well Done, Sir.
All you need to add to your accounts are pictures of lines of men volunteering to enlist at recruiting posts.
Ol' Dog
All you need to add to your accounts are pictures of lines of men volunteering to enlist at recruiting posts.
Ol' Dog
Common Sense is an uncommon virtue.
If you think you have everything under control, you don't fully understand the situation.
If you think you have everything under control, you don't fully understand the situation.
LEXINGTON AMBUSHES JAPANESE TASK FORCE
December 11, 1941
Thayne's News Network
Editor's Note: In times of war, the news is likely to be filled with all sorts of rumor and exaggeration. The goal of the Thayne News Network is to cut through the fog of war, and provide you, our loyal readers, with as accurate a report of events on the front line as we can.
The Thayne News Network is a special service for the clients in the military industrial complex who need accurate information on the progress of the war. Any disclosure of the contents of these reports is punishable as treason.
VICTORY AT WAKE ISLAND
LEXINGTON AMBUSHES JAPANESE TASK FORCE
(TN - Hawaii) Finding itself with a unique opportunity, made possible by an alleged failure to receive an earlier order to withdraw, ships from the U.S.S. Lexington ambushed a Japanese task force south of Wake Island yesterday. The task force is believed to be ships retreating from Wake Island, where the First USMC Defense Battalion had driven the Japanese attackers away the previous night.
The chain of events started when the Japanese pulled its attacking force off of Wake Island late on December 10. Expecting the Japanese fleet to retire to the south toward Kwajalein, the Lexington moved into position to intercept the fleet. Lexington scout planes spotted Japanese ships 200 miles to the west shortly after dawn, and launched its attack planes. Dive bombers inflicted significant damage on 3 light cruisers, identified on the basis of aerial photographs as the Tenryu (3 hits), Tatsuta (4 hits), and Yubara (5 hits).
As news of the victory spread, the public began to instantly demand the relief of the garrison on Wake Island. Admiral Kimmel is reported to be concerned about being pressured into military action for political purposes. He is reported to fear that the Wake Island attack could be an ambush – that any attempt to rescue or reinforce the garrison can easily be met by the fleet of Japanese carriers that were only recently at Pearl Harbor itself. Others answer these concerns by claiming that war involves risk, and the best way to give the Japanese uncontested control of the oceans is to refuse to fight them. Kimmel had authorized the southern interception because he expected the Japanese navy to be setting up its ambush at Wake Island and not in the waters further south.
BRITISH FLEET ABANDONS SINGAPORE
(TN - Singapore) With the heart of its fleet in Malaysia badly damaged, the need to use its destroyers to escort the stricken ships from Japanese submarines, and with the Japanese controlling the skies, the British government pulled its fleet out of Singapore. The Prince of Wales was still riding low in the water as it pulled out of the harbor. In spite of the danger of flooding, the British government felt that it was better to pull the fleet to safety than to wait for it to suffer further damage in the harbor at Singapore. As it retreated, the British fleet again fell under attack. In spite of over two dozen British Buffalo fighters escorting the fleet out of hostile waters, the attackers were able to deliver another torpedo into the Repulse.
Japanese Victorious Throughout Pacific
The Japanese attack against Northern Malaysia expanded to include Alor Star on the country's west coast, while the forces landing at Khota Bharu were able to throw the defenders back away from the landing beaches. With the victory, the Japanese gain control of an important port that they can use to bring reinforcements and supply to its attacking armies, as well as a nearby airbase from which to support its attacks. The attack at Alor Star threatens the British airbase there.
On the other side of the Pacific, the Japanese took control of Makin Atoll in the Gilbert Islands. The island had virtually no garrison, allowing the Japanese to simply sail in and take over. The local militia was able to inflict no more than 100 casualties on the attackers.
In the Philippines, efforts continue to prevent the encirclement of the 103 and 104 USAAF base forces at Laoag on the northern coast. In Hong Kong, the defenders continue to hold out in spite of being completely cut off from any help, against a Japanese force nearly twice as large and significantly better supplied.
Thayne's News Network
Editor's Note: In times of war, the news is likely to be filled with all sorts of rumor and exaggeration. The goal of the Thayne News Network is to cut through the fog of war, and provide you, our loyal readers, with as accurate a report of events on the front line as we can.
The Thayne News Network is a special service for the clients in the military industrial complex who need accurate information on the progress of the war. Any disclosure of the contents of these reports is punishable as treason.
VICTORY AT WAKE ISLAND
LEXINGTON AMBUSHES JAPANESE TASK FORCE
(TN - Hawaii) Finding itself with a unique opportunity, made possible by an alleged failure to receive an earlier order to withdraw, ships from the U.S.S. Lexington ambushed a Japanese task force south of Wake Island yesterday. The task force is believed to be ships retreating from Wake Island, where the First USMC Defense Battalion had driven the Japanese attackers away the previous night.
The chain of events started when the Japanese pulled its attacking force off of Wake Island late on December 10. Expecting the Japanese fleet to retire to the south toward Kwajalein, the Lexington moved into position to intercept the fleet. Lexington scout planes spotted Japanese ships 200 miles to the west shortly after dawn, and launched its attack planes. Dive bombers inflicted significant damage on 3 light cruisers, identified on the basis of aerial photographs as the Tenryu (3 hits), Tatsuta (4 hits), and Yubara (5 hits).
As news of the victory spread, the public began to instantly demand the relief of the garrison on Wake Island. Admiral Kimmel is reported to be concerned about being pressured into military action for political purposes. He is reported to fear that the Wake Island attack could be an ambush – that any attempt to rescue or reinforce the garrison can easily be met by the fleet of Japanese carriers that were only recently at Pearl Harbor itself. Others answer these concerns by claiming that war involves risk, and the best way to give the Japanese uncontested control of the oceans is to refuse to fight them. Kimmel had authorized the southern interception because he expected the Japanese navy to be setting up its ambush at Wake Island and not in the waters further south.
BRITISH FLEET ABANDONS SINGAPORE
(TN - Singapore) With the heart of its fleet in Malaysia badly damaged, the need to use its destroyers to escort the stricken ships from Japanese submarines, and with the Japanese controlling the skies, the British government pulled its fleet out of Singapore. The Prince of Wales was still riding low in the water as it pulled out of the harbor. In spite of the danger of flooding, the British government felt that it was better to pull the fleet to safety than to wait for it to suffer further damage in the harbor at Singapore. As it retreated, the British fleet again fell under attack. In spite of over two dozen British Buffalo fighters escorting the fleet out of hostile waters, the attackers were able to deliver another torpedo into the Repulse.
Japanese Victorious Throughout Pacific
The Japanese attack against Northern Malaysia expanded to include Alor Star on the country's west coast, while the forces landing at Khota Bharu were able to throw the defenders back away from the landing beaches. With the victory, the Japanese gain control of an important port that they can use to bring reinforcements and supply to its attacking armies, as well as a nearby airbase from which to support its attacks. The attack at Alor Star threatens the British airbase there.
On the other side of the Pacific, the Japanese took control of Makin Atoll in the Gilbert Islands. The island had virtually no garrison, allowing the Japanese to simply sail in and take over. The local militia was able to inflict no more than 100 casualties on the attackers.
In the Philippines, efforts continue to prevent the encirclement of the 103 and 104 USAAF base forces at Laoag on the northern coast. In Hong Kong, the defenders continue to hold out in spite of being completely cut off from any help, against a Japanese force nearly twice as large and significantly better supplied.
HONG KONG FALLS
December 12, 1941
Thayne's News Network
Editor's Note: In times of war, the news is likely to be filled with all sorts of rumor and exaggeration. The goal of the Thayne News Network is to cut through the fog of war, and provide you, our loyal readers, with as accurate a report of events on the front line as we can.
The Thayne News Network is a special service for the clients in the military industrial complex who need accurate information on the progress of the war. Any disclosure of the contents of these reports is punishable as treason.
HONG KONG FALLS
(TN - China) The British port of Hong Kong, in southern China, surrendered today, giving the Japanese control of this strategically important Asian port city. The British garrison, outnumbered by 3 to 1, was overrun during the night by a wave of Japanese soldier that simply overwhelmed the British defenders. The victory frees up over 45,000 Japanese soldiers to be used in China, the Dutch East Indies, or Burma.
Japan Prepares for Invasion of Burma
Japanese forces are already lining up to cross the border into Burma. In addition, several towns in Burma, including Rangoon and Moulmein, have been subject to Japanese air attacks since the start of the war. Lieutenant General Pownall, the commander of British forces in the Far East, has expressed concern over the potential loss of the airfield at the towns of Tavoy and Victoria Point on the eastern shore of the Indian Ocean. These two towns provide the only way to ferry shorter-range British aircraft out of Malaysia as the situation in that country worsens, and both towns are easily within reach of Japanese attackers from Thailand. Any opportunity to rescue British air units from the war in Malaysia will have to be taken soon. At the same time, any attempt to rescue these air units will leave ground units in Malaysia to fight their war without air support.
Lieutenant General Percival of the Malaysian Army reports that his task force has spotted another invasion fleet off the coast. He subjected this fleet to a day of bombardment that resulted in damage to one transport ship. Percival expressed concern that these units may land south of Malacca, cutting off Malaysian army units fighting in the northern part of the country. He has ordered his air units to focus on preventing this landing, and ordered units ahead to hold open a route of escape from Malacca.
Japanese Bomb Rabaul
One potential new arena of Japanese expansion is the Bizmark Archipelago. Recently, Japanese reconnaissance airplanes have been seen over the ports of Emirau and Rabaul, and yesterday Rabaul was subject to a massive air bombardment.
Military Plans Take Shape
Military leaders have created a basic strategy for the War in the Pacific, and began dispatching orders to field units telling them to prepare for deployment. Since the focus of the war will be on Hitler in Europe, units in the Pacific have been told to do their best to hold on to and defend what they have. Priority will be given to defending the screening islands of Midway and Johnson Island in the Pacific to block another Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, though the northern route remains a potential threat. The Pacific Fleet has also been ordered to take steps to protect a naval transportation route to Australia and New Zealand. With the Gilbert Islands already under attack, these steps will have to involve reinforcing the garrisons further south.
In the Far East, this military strategy implies that the Philippines and Dutch East Indies will likely fall to the Japanese, at least for a while. Priority will be given to reinforcing India and Burma, and maintaining a line of communication to the Chinese, who have been fighting the Japanese and have potential air bases within striking range of their home islands. We have learned that we can expect to see ground units begin to move to their deployed locations starting in the next two or three days.
Military Preparedness Accelerates
Military preparedness in the Western United States and Australia continues to accelerate. The focus continues to be on the deployment of artillery pieces to protect against any potential Japanese invasion. In the last three days, an additional 140 heavy guns have been deployed, bringing the total to over 200 additional artillery pieces deployed in these theaters since the start of the war. In addition, over five dozen additional air units have been added to the defenses in the western United States and in Australia as air defense units have been brought up to full strength.
Supplies and Reinforcements Depart for Hawaii
The first military reinforcements departed San Francisco for Pearl Harbor yesterday. The ship was primarily filled with medical equipment for the soldiers who were wounded in the attack, as well as those that will be the inevitable casualties of the War in the Pacific. In addition, priority was given to providing the Army with spare parts for the airplanes destroyed in the initial attack. Several personnel are also on board the transport. In addition to the doctors and nurses who volunteered who we reported about earlier, a number of soldiers who were on leave in the United States at the time of the attack are using this opportunity to return to their units.
Thayne's News Network
Editor's Note: In times of war, the news is likely to be filled with all sorts of rumor and exaggeration. The goal of the Thayne News Network is to cut through the fog of war, and provide you, our loyal readers, with as accurate a report of events on the front line as we can.
The Thayne News Network is a special service for the clients in the military industrial complex who need accurate information on the progress of the war. Any disclosure of the contents of these reports is punishable as treason.
HONG KONG FALLS
(TN - China) The British port of Hong Kong, in southern China, surrendered today, giving the Japanese control of this strategically important Asian port city. The British garrison, outnumbered by 3 to 1, was overrun during the night by a wave of Japanese soldier that simply overwhelmed the British defenders. The victory frees up over 45,000 Japanese soldiers to be used in China, the Dutch East Indies, or Burma.
Japan Prepares for Invasion of Burma
Japanese forces are already lining up to cross the border into Burma. In addition, several towns in Burma, including Rangoon and Moulmein, have been subject to Japanese air attacks since the start of the war. Lieutenant General Pownall, the commander of British forces in the Far East, has expressed concern over the potential loss of the airfield at the towns of Tavoy and Victoria Point on the eastern shore of the Indian Ocean. These two towns provide the only way to ferry shorter-range British aircraft out of Malaysia as the situation in that country worsens, and both towns are easily within reach of Japanese attackers from Thailand. Any opportunity to rescue British air units from the war in Malaysia will have to be taken soon. At the same time, any attempt to rescue these air units will leave ground units in Malaysia to fight their war without air support.
Lieutenant General Percival of the Malaysian Army reports that his task force has spotted another invasion fleet off the coast. He subjected this fleet to a day of bombardment that resulted in damage to one transport ship. Percival expressed concern that these units may land south of Malacca, cutting off Malaysian army units fighting in the northern part of the country. He has ordered his air units to focus on preventing this landing, and ordered units ahead to hold open a route of escape from Malacca.
Japanese Bomb Rabaul
One potential new arena of Japanese expansion is the Bizmark Archipelago. Recently, Japanese reconnaissance airplanes have been seen over the ports of Emirau and Rabaul, and yesterday Rabaul was subject to a massive air bombardment.
Military Plans Take Shape
Military leaders have created a basic strategy for the War in the Pacific, and began dispatching orders to field units telling them to prepare for deployment. Since the focus of the war will be on Hitler in Europe, units in the Pacific have been told to do their best to hold on to and defend what they have. Priority will be given to defending the screening islands of Midway and Johnson Island in the Pacific to block another Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, though the northern route remains a potential threat. The Pacific Fleet has also been ordered to take steps to protect a naval transportation route to Australia and New Zealand. With the Gilbert Islands already under attack, these steps will have to involve reinforcing the garrisons further south.
In the Far East, this military strategy implies that the Philippines and Dutch East Indies will likely fall to the Japanese, at least for a while. Priority will be given to reinforcing India and Burma, and maintaining a line of communication to the Chinese, who have been fighting the Japanese and have potential air bases within striking range of their home islands. We have learned that we can expect to see ground units begin to move to their deployed locations starting in the next two or three days.
Military Preparedness Accelerates
Military preparedness in the Western United States and Australia continues to accelerate. The focus continues to be on the deployment of artillery pieces to protect against any potential Japanese invasion. In the last three days, an additional 140 heavy guns have been deployed, bringing the total to over 200 additional artillery pieces deployed in these theaters since the start of the war. In addition, over five dozen additional air units have been added to the defenses in the western United States and in Australia as air defense units have been brought up to full strength.
Supplies and Reinforcements Depart for Hawaii
The first military reinforcements departed San Francisco for Pearl Harbor yesterday. The ship was primarily filled with medical equipment for the soldiers who were wounded in the attack, as well as those that will be the inevitable casualties of the War in the Pacific. In addition, priority was given to providing the Army with spare parts for the airplanes destroyed in the initial attack. Several personnel are also on board the transport. In addition to the doctors and nurses who volunteered who we reported about earlier, a number of soldiers who were on leave in the United States at the time of the attack are using this opportunity to return to their units.
RE: HONG KONG FALLS
This is how all AAR's (DAR's!) should be written imo.. Good stuff Thayne. Hope you're enjoying PBEM as much as I'm enjoying reading it [:)]
CRUISER HOUSTON SUNK
December 13, 1941
Thayne's News Network
Editor's Note: In times of war, the news is likely to be filled with all sorts of rumor and exaggeration. The goal of the Thayne News Network is to cut through the fog of war, and provide you, our loyal readers, with as accurate a report of events on the front line as we can.
The Thayne News Network is a special service for the clients in the military industrial complex who need accurate information on the progress of the war. Any disclosure of the contents of these reports is punishable as treason.
CRUISER HOUSTON SUNK
(TN - Philippines) Japanese carrier aircraft caught an American task force in the port of Taytay in the western Philippine islands late yesterday. A lucky bomb strike from a Kate bomber destroyed the U.S.S. Houston in the attack. Reports from the port of Taytay said that the explosion was like a volcano erupting in the middle of the ocean. The force of the explosion rattled windows over 10 miles away. The Houston was the last Allied capital ship in the region, since the British pulled the Repulse and the Prince of Wales out of Singapore earlier in the week.
TARAWA FALLS
(TN – Hawaii) In the Gilbert Islands, the Japanese took the island of Tarawa in an early morning attack yesterday. As with Makin Atoll, Tarawa was defenseless against the Japanese aggression. Local militia attempted to resist the Japanese occupation, but inflicted only a few dozen casualties before the Japanese were able to take total control of the region.
Japan Invasion Fleet Enters Bismark Archipelago
Australian coast watchers discovered a Japanese invasion fleet north of New Hanover Island, heading southwest. Of the seven ships seen in the task force, three of them were transport ships, which can only be assumed to be destined for Rabaul. Air units stationed at Rabaul were sent against the fleet, but were unable to score any damage against any of the ships.
Japan Fights for Air Supremacy in Burma and Malaysia
Japan continued to focus its bomber squadrons on Allied airfields in Malaysia and Burma, presumably in the hopes of winning air superiority in the region. In recent days, Kuantun, Victoria Point, and Alor Star have all been subject to air attacks on a particularly large scale. In addition, Japanese land forces are near to capturing the Alor Star airbase, forcing the redeployment of the air units stationed there. Four Hudson aircraft were lost earlier when the Japanese captured the airfield at Khota Baru, and Lieutenant General Percival has already ordered that damaged airplanes that cannot be launched at Alor Star are to be destroyed to prevent them from falling into enemy hands.
Western United States Ports Growing in Activity
More transports departed the San Francisco today carrying relief supplies and reinforcements for Pearl Harbor as the American war machine continues to pick up momentum. Every port on the West Coast is now fully active in collecting and delivering the machinery of war to where it will do the most good. The list of destinations is also starting to grow as the War Department prepares to fight on a front that reaches from Anchorage Alaska to Sydney Australia.
Thayne's News Network
Editor's Note: In times of war, the news is likely to be filled with all sorts of rumor and exaggeration. The goal of the Thayne News Network is to cut through the fog of war, and provide you, our loyal readers, with as accurate a report of events on the front line as we can.
The Thayne News Network is a special service for the clients in the military industrial complex who need accurate information on the progress of the war. Any disclosure of the contents of these reports is punishable as treason.
CRUISER HOUSTON SUNK
(TN - Philippines) Japanese carrier aircraft caught an American task force in the port of Taytay in the western Philippine islands late yesterday. A lucky bomb strike from a Kate bomber destroyed the U.S.S. Houston in the attack. Reports from the port of Taytay said that the explosion was like a volcano erupting in the middle of the ocean. The force of the explosion rattled windows over 10 miles away. The Houston was the last Allied capital ship in the region, since the British pulled the Repulse and the Prince of Wales out of Singapore earlier in the week.
TARAWA FALLS
(TN – Hawaii) In the Gilbert Islands, the Japanese took the island of Tarawa in an early morning attack yesterday. As with Makin Atoll, Tarawa was defenseless against the Japanese aggression. Local militia attempted to resist the Japanese occupation, but inflicted only a few dozen casualties before the Japanese were able to take total control of the region.
Japan Invasion Fleet Enters Bismark Archipelago
Australian coast watchers discovered a Japanese invasion fleet north of New Hanover Island, heading southwest. Of the seven ships seen in the task force, three of them were transport ships, which can only be assumed to be destined for Rabaul. Air units stationed at Rabaul were sent against the fleet, but were unable to score any damage against any of the ships.
Japan Fights for Air Supremacy in Burma and Malaysia
Japan continued to focus its bomber squadrons on Allied airfields in Malaysia and Burma, presumably in the hopes of winning air superiority in the region. In recent days, Kuantun, Victoria Point, and Alor Star have all been subject to air attacks on a particularly large scale. In addition, Japanese land forces are near to capturing the Alor Star airbase, forcing the redeployment of the air units stationed there. Four Hudson aircraft were lost earlier when the Japanese captured the airfield at Khota Baru, and Lieutenant General Percival has already ordered that damaged airplanes that cannot be launched at Alor Star are to be destroyed to prevent them from falling into enemy hands.
Western United States Ports Growing in Activity
More transports departed the San Francisco today carrying relief supplies and reinforcements for Pearl Harbor as the American war machine continues to pick up momentum. Every port on the West Coast is now fully active in collecting and delivering the machinery of war to where it will do the most good. The list of destinations is also starting to grow as the War Department prepares to fight on a front that reaches from Anchorage Alaska to Sydney Australia.
RE: HONG KONG FALLS
ORIGINAL: Banquet
This is how all AAR's (DAR's!) should be written imo.. Good stuff Thayne. Hope you're enjoying PBEM as much as I'm enjoying reading it [:)]
I regret to report that this is not PBEM. Nobody answered my request, so this game is against the Japanese AI.
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Platoonist
- Posts: 3042
- Joined: Sun May 11, 2003 4:53 am
- Location: Yoyodyne Propulsion Systems
RE: HONG KONG FALLS
Wow! An ambitious effort. Full of wonderful pointers on how to conduct the Grand Campaign Game. Keep it up. Hope you don't wear out your typing fingers. [:D]
JAPANESE INVADES SOUTH PHILIPPINES – GETS MAULED
December 14, 1941
Thayne's News Network
Editor's Note: In times of war, the news is likely to be filled with all sorts of rumor and exaggeration. The goal of the Thayne News Network is to cut through the fog of war, and provide you, our loyal readers, with as accurate a report of events on the front line as we can.
The Thayne News Network is a special service for the clients in the military industrial complex who need accurate information on the progress of the war. Any disclosure of the contents of these reports is punishable as treason.
JAPANESE INVADES SOUTH PHILIPPINES – GETS MAULED
(TN - Philippines) Defenders in the southern Philippine town of Davao came under attack yesterday by an invasion force that dropped over 10,000 soldiers on the beach. The 101 PA Division was ready for them. As the enemy approached the shore, coastal batteries delivered hits against five enemy ships, including a rapid series of hits against a Japanese mine sweeper, setting it on fire.
In related news, General McArthur ordered all remaining combat ships to withdraw from the Philippines, as reconnaissance aircraft reported the approach of a carrier and battleship task group approaching the island from the east. With no capital ships available to defend the island, and no protection from air attack, McArthur reported that it would be suicidal to keep a surface task force in the area. The task force was ordered south to assist in the defense of Java. This carrier group is in addition to the Ryoho carrier spotted off of the western shore of the Philippines, which was responsible for the sinking of the Houston two days earlier. With the addition of this second carrier task force, the Japanese have successfully cut the islands off from any hope of relief. The Philippine Islands are now effectively under siege.
RABAUL ATTACKED
As expected, a Japanese invasion fleet attacked the town of Rabaul in the Bismark Archipelago yesterday. The attack began just before dawn, delivering a substantial Japanese force to the shore while it was still dark. At dawn Australian bombers stationed at Rabaul attacked the defenders, inflicting light damage on one troop transport. The attackers took light damage from the air units and coastal artillery, and was able to create a stable beachhead by dusk. General Blamey, the head of the Australian Command, ordered that the air units retire to a safe port.
ALLIED MILITARY PLANS PUT INTO ACTION
A week of negotiations between the key military players in the Pacific theater of operations are now being put into effect. Political leaders met for two days in Washington, D.C., to work out an opening strategy for the conflict, then sent their orders to the units in the field. Those units immediately began the work to put these plans into effect.
Key to the plan is the intention to hold onto a chain of islands from Australia to Hawaii so that military supplies can continue to be delivered to the island. This chain of islands extends south from Pearl Harbor to Christmas Islands, then southwest to Fiji and New Caledonia. Australian forces were given responsibility for establishing the initial garrison on New Caledonia, New Hebrides, and Fiji. For this purpose, Australian military units were reassigned to the South Pacific theater of operations. American forces will sail down from the west coast of the United States. As the two lines of force extend outward, they expect to meet at the island of Pago Pago to form a wall to contain Japanese expansion.
Rear Admiral Ghormley, speaking from his headquarters on New Caledonia, said, “Once we have our noose in place, then we can begin to tighten it.”
Intelligence Records First Sinking of Japanese Ship
(TN – Hawaii) Interceptions of Japanese radio traffic suggest the sinking of the first Japanese ship in the war. The light cruiser Tenryo, damaged on December 10 by bombers from the U.S.S. Lexington south of Wake Island, has been reported to have sunk several days later as a result of the damage suffered in the attack. The Lexington attacked the Tenryo and its sister ships with 1000 lb bombs delivered by SBD Dive Bombers as they retreated from the lost battle of Wake Island.
Japan Invasion Fleet Enters Bismark Archipelago
Australian coast watchers discovered a Japanese invasion fleet north of New Hanover Island, heading southwest. Of the seven ships seen in the task force, three of them were transport ships, which can only be assumed to be destined for Rabaul. Air units stationed at Rabaul were sent against the fleet, but were unable to score any damage against any of the ships.
Invasion Force Attacked near Singapore
The Japanese Navy foolishly attempted to send an invasion force past Singapore into the Malacca Straight yesterday. As it sailed past the island fortress, Swordfish torpedo bombers, along with level bombers and fighters from the island, attacked the invasion force, inflicting damage on at least one transport ship. The attacks not only killed an unknown number of enemy soldiers, but forced the enemy fleet to slow down, keeping it within attack range of the Singapore planes well into the afternoon. A second attack managed to cause damage to a second Japanese ship. At dusk, the enemy task force was still only fifty miles away from Singapore, and is expected to still be within range of the Singapore air force at dawn.
*********************
House Rule: All Allied ground units in USWest Coast, Anchorage, South Pacific, New Zealand, Australia, Dutch East Indies, Burma, and India are frozen until December 14th. They can engage in activity in their own hex, but they were not permitted to move, nor could their future objective be changed. This is to represent the fact that it would take Allied command several days to decide on a plan and to transmit the orders, and for the units to begin to prepare for their role in that plan. As of now, those units are no longer frozen.
Thayne's News Network
Editor's Note: In times of war, the news is likely to be filled with all sorts of rumor and exaggeration. The goal of the Thayne News Network is to cut through the fog of war, and provide you, our loyal readers, with as accurate a report of events on the front line as we can.
The Thayne News Network is a special service for the clients in the military industrial complex who need accurate information on the progress of the war. Any disclosure of the contents of these reports is punishable as treason.
JAPANESE INVADES SOUTH PHILIPPINES – GETS MAULED
(TN - Philippines) Defenders in the southern Philippine town of Davao came under attack yesterday by an invasion force that dropped over 10,000 soldiers on the beach. The 101 PA Division was ready for them. As the enemy approached the shore, coastal batteries delivered hits against five enemy ships, including a rapid series of hits against a Japanese mine sweeper, setting it on fire.
In related news, General McArthur ordered all remaining combat ships to withdraw from the Philippines, as reconnaissance aircraft reported the approach of a carrier and battleship task group approaching the island from the east. With no capital ships available to defend the island, and no protection from air attack, McArthur reported that it would be suicidal to keep a surface task force in the area. The task force was ordered south to assist in the defense of Java. This carrier group is in addition to the Ryoho carrier spotted off of the western shore of the Philippines, which was responsible for the sinking of the Houston two days earlier. With the addition of this second carrier task force, the Japanese have successfully cut the islands off from any hope of relief. The Philippine Islands are now effectively under siege.
RABAUL ATTACKED
As expected, a Japanese invasion fleet attacked the town of Rabaul in the Bismark Archipelago yesterday. The attack began just before dawn, delivering a substantial Japanese force to the shore while it was still dark. At dawn Australian bombers stationed at Rabaul attacked the defenders, inflicting light damage on one troop transport. The attackers took light damage from the air units and coastal artillery, and was able to create a stable beachhead by dusk. General Blamey, the head of the Australian Command, ordered that the air units retire to a safe port.
ALLIED MILITARY PLANS PUT INTO ACTION
A week of negotiations between the key military players in the Pacific theater of operations are now being put into effect. Political leaders met for two days in Washington, D.C., to work out an opening strategy for the conflict, then sent their orders to the units in the field. Those units immediately began the work to put these plans into effect.
Key to the plan is the intention to hold onto a chain of islands from Australia to Hawaii so that military supplies can continue to be delivered to the island. This chain of islands extends south from Pearl Harbor to Christmas Islands, then southwest to Fiji and New Caledonia. Australian forces were given responsibility for establishing the initial garrison on New Caledonia, New Hebrides, and Fiji. For this purpose, Australian military units were reassigned to the South Pacific theater of operations. American forces will sail down from the west coast of the United States. As the two lines of force extend outward, they expect to meet at the island of Pago Pago to form a wall to contain Japanese expansion.
Rear Admiral Ghormley, speaking from his headquarters on New Caledonia, said, “Once we have our noose in place, then we can begin to tighten it.”
Intelligence Records First Sinking of Japanese Ship
(TN – Hawaii) Interceptions of Japanese radio traffic suggest the sinking of the first Japanese ship in the war. The light cruiser Tenryo, damaged on December 10 by bombers from the U.S.S. Lexington south of Wake Island, has been reported to have sunk several days later as a result of the damage suffered in the attack. The Lexington attacked the Tenryo and its sister ships with 1000 lb bombs delivered by SBD Dive Bombers as they retreated from the lost battle of Wake Island.
Japan Invasion Fleet Enters Bismark Archipelago
Australian coast watchers discovered a Japanese invasion fleet north of New Hanover Island, heading southwest. Of the seven ships seen in the task force, three of them were transport ships, which can only be assumed to be destined for Rabaul. Air units stationed at Rabaul were sent against the fleet, but were unable to score any damage against any of the ships.
Invasion Force Attacked near Singapore
The Japanese Navy foolishly attempted to send an invasion force past Singapore into the Malacca Straight yesterday. As it sailed past the island fortress, Swordfish torpedo bombers, along with level bombers and fighters from the island, attacked the invasion force, inflicting damage on at least one transport ship. The attacks not only killed an unknown number of enemy soldiers, but forced the enemy fleet to slow down, keeping it within attack range of the Singapore planes well into the afternoon. A second attack managed to cause damage to a second Japanese ship. At dusk, the enemy task force was still only fifty miles away from Singapore, and is expected to still be within range of the Singapore air force at dawn.
*********************
House Rule: All Allied ground units in USWest Coast, Anchorage, South Pacific, New Zealand, Australia, Dutch East Indies, Burma, and India are frozen until December 14th. They can engage in activity in their own hex, but they were not permitted to move, nor could their future objective be changed. This is to represent the fact that it would take Allied command several days to decide on a plan and to transmit the orders, and for the units to begin to prepare for their role in that plan. As of now, those units are no longer frozen.
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andytimtim
- Posts: 150
- Joined: Thu Jul 15, 2004 6:06 pm
- Location: Livingston, Scotland
RE: JAPANESE INVADES SOUTH PHILIPPINES – GETS MAULED
this is well written AAR!!, keep it up!
DEBACLE AT KUANTAN
December 15, 1941
Thayne's News Network
Editor's Note: In times of war, the news is likely to be filled with all sorts of rumor and exaggeration. The goal of the Thayne News Network is to cut through the fog of war, and provide you, our loyal readers, with as accurate a report of events on the front line as we can.
The Thayne News Network is a special service for the clients in the military industrial complex who need accurate information on the progress of the war. Any disclosure of the contents of these reports is punishable as treason.
DEBACLE AT KUANTAN
(TN - Singapore) In a surprisingly powerful push, the Japanese took the port city of Kuantan late yesterday. Japanese forces had just reached the edge of the city after marching south from their recent victory at Khota Bharu. Allied commanders had expected the tired units to regroup before launching a new major offensive, and were caught entirely by surprise when the forward units launched an immediate attack on the city. The Japanese took Kuantan so quickly that they managed to catch two air squadrons on the ground, destroying twenty-six planes before their pilots had a chance to take off. The victory also threatens to cut off a number of Malaysian army units on the west side of the island from the possibility of retreat into Singapore. While General Percival attempts to organize an orderly retreat into the city, signs of panic have been noted among units that fear that they may be cut off and isolated.
At the same time, a sizable invasion fleet attacked earlier in the Malacca Straight, appears to have found refuge in an early morning storm somewhere off of Bankha. Expecting an opportunity to deliver another crippling blow to the flotilla, Singapore airplanes that took off at dawn were able to see nothing but clouds in the area.
Victoria Point Captured in Surprise Attack
The first step in the invasion of Burma caught the defenders of Victoria Point by surprise. The Japanese were able to hide a sizable attack force on the Thailand part of the border, and when they streamed down the hillside they quickly overwhelmed the defenders, forcing its surrender in less than an hour. The capture of Victoria Point gives the Japanese not only gives the Japanese a port on the India Ocean, it makes it more difficult to ferry air units out of Malaysia. To compound the difficulty for the allies, aerial reconnaissance has detected the Japanese 55 Division forming up east of Tavoy, the second airfield in the ferry route out of Malaysia.
Philippine Gunners Destroy Invasion Ships
Both at Legaspi, and at Devao, Philippine gunners continue to pound the ships of the Japanese invasion force. At Davao, a battery of coastal guns found the range to a pair of Japanese transports. They delivered nearly a half dozen shells into a cargo ship, and at least three shells into a troop transport ship, before the Japanese were able to knock out the guns. At Legaspi, gunners scored a half dozen hits against a patrol gunboat and at least two hits on a second gunboat. During the exchange of gunfire, three B-17 Bombers joined the fight, delivering a bomb into a troop transport located just off shore. Shortly after the planes left, a deep rumble and a thick cloud of smoke burst out of the interior of the ship.
Unfortunately, the courage of the Philippine gunners was not enough to save the port city of Devao from falling into Japanese hands. By nightfall, the defenders found themselves outnumbered and had no choice but to abandon the city. The units retreated into the countryside northwest of the city, where they established a new line of defenses.
Japanese Continue Conquest of Gilbert Islands; Fight for Rabaul
The Japanese captured another member of the Gilbert Island group, Apamama, yesterday. Like the other islands in this region, this island contained nothing more than a small militia that was unable to inflict any significant damage to the Japanese invaders. The Japanese, now becoming accustomed to these types of attacks, lost fewer than 3 dozen men in the attack. As these conquests continue, the supply line to Australia becomes increasingly threatened.
In the Bismark Archipelago, Japanese landed more units in its attempt to capture the port of Rabaul. The capture of this port will give the Japanese a major base from which they can secure the rest of the Archipelago. Japanese control of Rabaul will also allow it to dominate or capture the ports on the northern coast of New Guinea.
Allied War Machine Rolls Out
(TN – San Francisco) Across a wide front, from Karachi, India to San Diago, USA, the Allied war machine made initial moves to put the war plan into action. Leaders of the key allied countries quickly agreed on a set of priorities and assigned duties to the military units assembling in key Allied cities. With the units now fully assembled, they began to move out to execute their assigned responsibilities.
Spectators watched a parade of British armor leave the city, heading east to meet the Japanese aggression. In Melbourne, Australia, the 4 Infantry Division loaded up in trains to travel north to meet the enemy. And in every major port city in the western United States, soldiers weighed down with heavy backs climbed the gang planks to waiting ships, ready to sail west against the enemy. Together, the three forces intend to first stop, then throw back, the Japanese attempt to establish a Pacific empire.
Public Demands for Rescue of Wake Island Heroes Grows
The American public is raising its voice in demanding that steps be taken to rescue the heroes of Wake Island, who were able to deliver the first real victory against the Japanese attackers. The public wants the survivors of the 1 USMC Defense Battalion to be reinforced or brought home, where they can be given the hero’s welcome they deserve. Admiral Kimmel’s fears of a Japanese trap are subdued by the fact that airplanes flying from airfields on Wake have not detected any enemy shipping.
Thayne's News Network
Editor's Note: In times of war, the news is likely to be filled with all sorts of rumor and exaggeration. The goal of the Thayne News Network is to cut through the fog of war, and provide you, our loyal readers, with as accurate a report of events on the front line as we can.
The Thayne News Network is a special service for the clients in the military industrial complex who need accurate information on the progress of the war. Any disclosure of the contents of these reports is punishable as treason.
DEBACLE AT KUANTAN
(TN - Singapore) In a surprisingly powerful push, the Japanese took the port city of Kuantan late yesterday. Japanese forces had just reached the edge of the city after marching south from their recent victory at Khota Bharu. Allied commanders had expected the tired units to regroup before launching a new major offensive, and were caught entirely by surprise when the forward units launched an immediate attack on the city. The Japanese took Kuantan so quickly that they managed to catch two air squadrons on the ground, destroying twenty-six planes before their pilots had a chance to take off. The victory also threatens to cut off a number of Malaysian army units on the west side of the island from the possibility of retreat into Singapore. While General Percival attempts to organize an orderly retreat into the city, signs of panic have been noted among units that fear that they may be cut off and isolated.
At the same time, a sizable invasion fleet attacked earlier in the Malacca Straight, appears to have found refuge in an early morning storm somewhere off of Bankha. Expecting an opportunity to deliver another crippling blow to the flotilla, Singapore airplanes that took off at dawn were able to see nothing but clouds in the area.
Victoria Point Captured in Surprise Attack
The first step in the invasion of Burma caught the defenders of Victoria Point by surprise. The Japanese were able to hide a sizable attack force on the Thailand part of the border, and when they streamed down the hillside they quickly overwhelmed the defenders, forcing its surrender in less than an hour. The capture of Victoria Point gives the Japanese not only gives the Japanese a port on the India Ocean, it makes it more difficult to ferry air units out of Malaysia. To compound the difficulty for the allies, aerial reconnaissance has detected the Japanese 55 Division forming up east of Tavoy, the second airfield in the ferry route out of Malaysia.
Philippine Gunners Destroy Invasion Ships
Both at Legaspi, and at Devao, Philippine gunners continue to pound the ships of the Japanese invasion force. At Davao, a battery of coastal guns found the range to a pair of Japanese transports. They delivered nearly a half dozen shells into a cargo ship, and at least three shells into a troop transport ship, before the Japanese were able to knock out the guns. At Legaspi, gunners scored a half dozen hits against a patrol gunboat and at least two hits on a second gunboat. During the exchange of gunfire, three B-17 Bombers joined the fight, delivering a bomb into a troop transport located just off shore. Shortly after the planes left, a deep rumble and a thick cloud of smoke burst out of the interior of the ship.
Unfortunately, the courage of the Philippine gunners was not enough to save the port city of Devao from falling into Japanese hands. By nightfall, the defenders found themselves outnumbered and had no choice but to abandon the city. The units retreated into the countryside northwest of the city, where they established a new line of defenses.
Japanese Continue Conquest of Gilbert Islands; Fight for Rabaul
The Japanese captured another member of the Gilbert Island group, Apamama, yesterday. Like the other islands in this region, this island contained nothing more than a small militia that was unable to inflict any significant damage to the Japanese invaders. The Japanese, now becoming accustomed to these types of attacks, lost fewer than 3 dozen men in the attack. As these conquests continue, the supply line to Australia becomes increasingly threatened.
In the Bismark Archipelago, Japanese landed more units in its attempt to capture the port of Rabaul. The capture of this port will give the Japanese a major base from which they can secure the rest of the Archipelago. Japanese control of Rabaul will also allow it to dominate or capture the ports on the northern coast of New Guinea.
Allied War Machine Rolls Out
(TN – San Francisco) Across a wide front, from Karachi, India to San Diago, USA, the Allied war machine made initial moves to put the war plan into action. Leaders of the key allied countries quickly agreed on a set of priorities and assigned duties to the military units assembling in key Allied cities. With the units now fully assembled, they began to move out to execute their assigned responsibilities.
Spectators watched a parade of British armor leave the city, heading east to meet the Japanese aggression. In Melbourne, Australia, the 4 Infantry Division loaded up in trains to travel north to meet the enemy. And in every major port city in the western United States, soldiers weighed down with heavy backs climbed the gang planks to waiting ships, ready to sail west against the enemy. Together, the three forces intend to first stop, then throw back, the Japanese attempt to establish a Pacific empire.
Public Demands for Rescue of Wake Island Heroes Grows
The American public is raising its voice in demanding that steps be taken to rescue the heroes of Wake Island, who were able to deliver the first real victory against the Japanese attackers. The public wants the survivors of the 1 USMC Defense Battalion to be reinforced or brought home, where they can be given the hero’s welcome they deserve. Admiral Kimmel’s fears of a Japanese trap are subdued by the fact that airplanes flying from airfields on Wake have not detected any enemy shipping.
JAPAN INVADES BORNEO
December 16, 1941
Thayne's News Network
Editor's Note: In times of war, the news is likely to be filled with all sorts of rumor and exaggeration. The goal of the Thayne News Network is to cut through the fog of war, and provide you, our loyal readers, with as accurate a report of events on the front line as we can.
The Thayne News Network is a special service for the clients in the military industrial complex who need accurate information on the progress of the war. Any disclosure of the contents of these reports is punishable as treason.
JAPAN INVADES BORNEO
(TN - Batavia, Java) Japanese forces yesterday launched its first attack on the Dutch East Indies, invading the port of Kuching in western Borneo during the night. Unprepared to be the first Dutch victims of Japanese aggression, the defending force as only able to get four shots off using their coastal guns at the attacking fleet. In less than an hour, the Japanese landed enough soldiers to outnumber the garrison by two to one.
Japan Lands Heavy Artillery in Support of Legaspi Assault
Philippine soldiers, who have so far held onto the port city of Legaspi through 10 days of battle, faced a much stronger enemy as Japan landed artillery to support the assault. At least three new mortar and heavy artillery units were used in the recent Japanese assault, which began inflicting significant damage on the defenders. Legaspi has been the sight of the fiercest fighting in the war to date, with each side estimated to have suffered nearly 1000 casualties in the last 24 hours alone.
Reinforcements reach Midway, Johnson Islands
Midway and Johnson Islands, the gateway to Hawaii, started receiving reinforcements yesterday. Admiral Kimmel reported that he considered it imperative that these islands be held. “They provide the best early-warning stations available of a pending attack on Pearl Harbor from the best enemy ports to use in launching an attack.” When reminded that the enemy launched its surprise attack on a route that avoided these islands, Kimmel answered, “If we can force the enemy to take a long detour, that’s fine with me.” He also commented that plans were in place to close the northern route as well.
Allied Submarine Mangles Japanese Maru
At dawn, yesterday, an Allied submarine operating off the coast of French Indochina, spotted a lone merchant ship heading west. According to reports, Lieutenant Commander R.G. Voge fired a spread of torpedoes into the ship, and was rewarded with the sound an explosion. Looking through the periscope. Three of the torpedoes struck the side of the ship and bounced off, but the fourth filled the ocean with the sounds of an explosion. Through the periscope, Commander Voge noticed that the transport was dead in the water. He ordered the ship to surface, and fired a dozen rounds into the side of the ship. With sunlight approaching, Voge was forced to leave the ship and retire to the ocean depths.
British Find Missing Assault Force in Malacca Straight
Slowed by the previous damage inflicted on several transport ships, the Japanese invasion fleet was unable to escape out of the range of British attack planes in time for the weather to clear. Though now beyond range of the shorter-range Vildebeast torpedo bombers, the British were still able to deliver another torpedo into the side of an already damaged transport ship. Reconnaissance of the area after the attack showed rescue efforts as Japanese ships picked up survivors in the water. It is suspected, though not confirmed, that the transport torpedoed earlier in the day was sank shortly after the attack.
Thayne's News Network
Editor's Note: In times of war, the news is likely to be filled with all sorts of rumor and exaggeration. The goal of the Thayne News Network is to cut through the fog of war, and provide you, our loyal readers, with as accurate a report of events on the front line as we can.
The Thayne News Network is a special service for the clients in the military industrial complex who need accurate information on the progress of the war. Any disclosure of the contents of these reports is punishable as treason.
JAPAN INVADES BORNEO
(TN - Batavia, Java) Japanese forces yesterday launched its first attack on the Dutch East Indies, invading the port of Kuching in western Borneo during the night. Unprepared to be the first Dutch victims of Japanese aggression, the defending force as only able to get four shots off using their coastal guns at the attacking fleet. In less than an hour, the Japanese landed enough soldiers to outnumber the garrison by two to one.
Japan Lands Heavy Artillery in Support of Legaspi Assault
Philippine soldiers, who have so far held onto the port city of Legaspi through 10 days of battle, faced a much stronger enemy as Japan landed artillery to support the assault. At least three new mortar and heavy artillery units were used in the recent Japanese assault, which began inflicting significant damage on the defenders. Legaspi has been the sight of the fiercest fighting in the war to date, with each side estimated to have suffered nearly 1000 casualties in the last 24 hours alone.
Reinforcements reach Midway, Johnson Islands
Midway and Johnson Islands, the gateway to Hawaii, started receiving reinforcements yesterday. Admiral Kimmel reported that he considered it imperative that these islands be held. “They provide the best early-warning stations available of a pending attack on Pearl Harbor from the best enemy ports to use in launching an attack.” When reminded that the enemy launched its surprise attack on a route that avoided these islands, Kimmel answered, “If we can force the enemy to take a long detour, that’s fine with me.” He also commented that plans were in place to close the northern route as well.
Allied Submarine Mangles Japanese Maru
At dawn, yesterday, an Allied submarine operating off the coast of French Indochina, spotted a lone merchant ship heading west. According to reports, Lieutenant Commander R.G. Voge fired a spread of torpedoes into the ship, and was rewarded with the sound an explosion. Looking through the periscope. Three of the torpedoes struck the side of the ship and bounced off, but the fourth filled the ocean with the sounds of an explosion. Through the periscope, Commander Voge noticed that the transport was dead in the water. He ordered the ship to surface, and fired a dozen rounds into the side of the ship. With sunlight approaching, Voge was forced to leave the ship and retire to the ocean depths.
British Find Missing Assault Force in Malacca Straight
Slowed by the previous damage inflicted on several transport ships, the Japanese invasion fleet was unable to escape out of the range of British attack planes in time for the weather to clear. Though now beyond range of the shorter-range Vildebeast torpedo bombers, the British were still able to deliver another torpedo into the side of an already damaged transport ship. Reconnaissance of the area after the attack showed rescue efforts as Japanese ships picked up survivors in the water. It is suspected, though not confirmed, that the transport torpedoed earlier in the day was sank shortly after the attack.
RE: JAPAN INVADES BORNEO
Great reading man. Keep it up.
RE: HONG KONG FALLS
ORIGINAL: Thayne
ORIGINAL: Banquet
This is how all AAR's (DAR's!) should be written imo.. Good stuff Thayne. Hope you're enjoying PBEM as much as I'm enjoying reading it [:)]
I regret to report that this is not PBEM. Nobody answered my request, so this game is against the Japanese AI.
Damn, I'd have played you if I'd known (barring the fact that I'm not ready to take on the Japanese production system yet)
Anyway, it's just as interesting to read against the A.I. Good luck, and may this be the first of many an AAR from you[:)]
LEGASPI FALLS
December 17, 1941
Thayne's News Network
Editor's Note: In times of war, the news is likely to be filled with all sorts of rumor and exaggeration. The goal of the Thayne News Network is to cut through the fog of war, and provide you, our loyal readers, with as accurate a report of events on the front line as we can.
The Thayne News Network is a special service for the clients in the military industrial complex who need accurate information on the progress of the war. Any disclosure of the contents of these reports is punishable as treason.
LEGASPI FALLS
With additional reinforcements, Japanese forces overwhelmed the defenders of Legaspi yesterday, capturing the port. Its defenders fell back to the fortified region of Naga. Legaspi held out longer than expected, largely due to McArthur’s decision to reinforce the port. Unnamed sources in McArthur headquarters said that McArthur simply wanted to put a kink in the Japanese timetable. It was believed that the Japanese were expecting an easy victory at Legaspi while the Philippine defenders retreated to their fortifications at Manila and Batan. They would then be able to use the port for a rapid push up the island. In reinforcing the city, McArthur is reported to have said, “I saw no need for a mad scramble to Manila. We are going to get there soon enough anyway.”
Allies Experiment with Night Time Bombing
Experimenting with new bombing techniques, the British air force sent a squadron of 10 Buffalo fighters against the Japanese air base in Bangkok, Thailand yesterday morning. There, they encountered over 40 enemy fighters flying CAP, which easily drove the Buffalos back to their base. Then, at night, allies struck the same base using night-trained Blenheim bombers. The bombers encountered no CAP, and film of the attack show definite signs of damage to the air base facilities and at least two Japanese fighters. A spokesperson for Lieutenant General Pownell said, “We do not want the Japanese to know where, or when, we are going to attack. We want them to have no safe corner in any corner of the planet, or in any hour of the day. No shadow is safe for these people to lurk in.”
Japanese Carrier Forces Pressure Allies
Since the start of the war, Allied scouts have been tracking the Japanese light carrier Ryoko from its initial combat location east of the Philippine islands, along the north edge of the island, and, presently, to Saigon Harbor. Allied pilots at Singapore have been put on alert in case the carrier decides to run the gauntlet of the Malacca Straight. At the same time, a second Japanese carrier, accompanied by a number capital ships, has recently been spotted in the waters east of the Philippine Islands, near Palau, heading southwest. Allied intelligence services are considering the possibility that the Japanese are planning a major bombardment assault against the British forces at Port Morsby, the only remaining significant Allied base near Rabaul.
Japanese Light Cruiser Reported Sunk
Intelligence reports suggest that the Japanese Light Cruiser Yubara, another victim of the Lexington ambush on December 10, sank before it could reach port at Einweitok. The reports suggest that the Yubara had gotten to within 100 miles of the port when its succumbed to its wounds and sank.
Chinese Forces Enter Burma
To aid in the defense of China and the supply routes that keep its armies equipped, China today moved two army divisions into northern Burma, while Japan readies its assault against the southern end of the country. Intelligence reports have indicated that the Japanese 55th division, presently sitting across the border just east of Tavoy, will launch its assault within the next couple of days. The key strategic prize in this assault is the city of Rangoon. Allied strategic planners believe that the Japanese task force that slipped through the Malacca Straight, and which is presently west of Georgetown in Malaysia, is intending to assist in the attack.
Thayne's News Network
Editor's Note: In times of war, the news is likely to be filled with all sorts of rumor and exaggeration. The goal of the Thayne News Network is to cut through the fog of war, and provide you, our loyal readers, with as accurate a report of events on the front line as we can.
The Thayne News Network is a special service for the clients in the military industrial complex who need accurate information on the progress of the war. Any disclosure of the contents of these reports is punishable as treason.
LEGASPI FALLS
With additional reinforcements, Japanese forces overwhelmed the defenders of Legaspi yesterday, capturing the port. Its defenders fell back to the fortified region of Naga. Legaspi held out longer than expected, largely due to McArthur’s decision to reinforce the port. Unnamed sources in McArthur headquarters said that McArthur simply wanted to put a kink in the Japanese timetable. It was believed that the Japanese were expecting an easy victory at Legaspi while the Philippine defenders retreated to their fortifications at Manila and Batan. They would then be able to use the port for a rapid push up the island. In reinforcing the city, McArthur is reported to have said, “I saw no need for a mad scramble to Manila. We are going to get there soon enough anyway.”
Allies Experiment with Night Time Bombing
Experimenting with new bombing techniques, the British air force sent a squadron of 10 Buffalo fighters against the Japanese air base in Bangkok, Thailand yesterday morning. There, they encountered over 40 enemy fighters flying CAP, which easily drove the Buffalos back to their base. Then, at night, allies struck the same base using night-trained Blenheim bombers. The bombers encountered no CAP, and film of the attack show definite signs of damage to the air base facilities and at least two Japanese fighters. A spokesperson for Lieutenant General Pownell said, “We do not want the Japanese to know where, or when, we are going to attack. We want them to have no safe corner in any corner of the planet, or in any hour of the day. No shadow is safe for these people to lurk in.”
Japanese Carrier Forces Pressure Allies
Since the start of the war, Allied scouts have been tracking the Japanese light carrier Ryoko from its initial combat location east of the Philippine islands, along the north edge of the island, and, presently, to Saigon Harbor. Allied pilots at Singapore have been put on alert in case the carrier decides to run the gauntlet of the Malacca Straight. At the same time, a second Japanese carrier, accompanied by a number capital ships, has recently been spotted in the waters east of the Philippine Islands, near Palau, heading southwest. Allied intelligence services are considering the possibility that the Japanese are planning a major bombardment assault against the British forces at Port Morsby, the only remaining significant Allied base near Rabaul.
Japanese Light Cruiser Reported Sunk
Intelligence reports suggest that the Japanese Light Cruiser Yubara, another victim of the Lexington ambush on December 10, sank before it could reach port at Einweitok. The reports suggest that the Yubara had gotten to within 100 miles of the port when its succumbed to its wounds and sank.
Chinese Forces Enter Burma
To aid in the defense of China and the supply routes that keep its armies equipped, China today moved two army divisions into northern Burma, while Japan readies its assault against the southern end of the country. Intelligence reports have indicated that the Japanese 55th division, presently sitting across the border just east of Tavoy, will launch its assault within the next couple of days. The key strategic prize in this assault is the city of Rangoon. Allied strategic planners believe that the Japanese task force that slipped through the Malacca Straight, and which is presently west of Georgetown in Malaysia, is intending to assist in the attack.
-
andytimtim
- Posts: 150
- Joined: Thu Jul 15, 2004 6:06 pm
- Location: Livingston, Scotland
RE: LEGASPI FALLS
another well written update, Thayne, one question however your obviously playing as the allies? right?
RE: LEGASPI FALLS
Just I quick note.... I think you meant to say Rangoon.... Not Rabual in that last part Great AAR!! You'll have your own history book when you finish the war[:)]