Dispatches from the Pacific

[Paddy]

October 1943 TOP SECRET
From East Coast Australia Allied Command Centre Sydney
To West Coast America Allied Command Centre San Francisco

Well Sir, it feels like quite sometime since I sat at this keyboard and put a dispatch together. Thank you for your report, your forces has been quite active, and it was with great joy to hear you have the Jap Carrier fleets on the run, and on the sea bed. Well done to you Sir.

I see that you have come across these Kamikazes. This I believe is the Divine Wind that we discussed several months ago.

Admiral Peterson and his Task Force 35 have successfully taken the Japanese Fleet that escaped from Donggala. We confirm that the Jap BB Kongo, CA Kumano, and escorts now reside on the bottom of the sea. From there the task force is to head for Hong Kong. At this time the Admiral has temporarily broken up the task force. The Cruisers have made a fast track for Hong Kong, with a fully loaded transporter. The Repulse and The Prince of Wales will be on their way shortly. They along with their destroyer component are awaiting several other transporters that are making top speed to this region.

Adding to this we have several transporters coming off the slips in the area very soon. General Collins has quite a force coming together via these transporters. It is our hope that we are able to assist you in taking the Jap home islands.

Away to the south, Admiral Hollingsworth has informed me that 6 new destroyers will hit the waters in as many weeks. The project he has been heading is to raise a new Destroyer squadron. For this, the Admiral went out into the islands of the Pacific, and the bases along the Australian North East Coast. Admiral Hollingsworth and his staff have also been working closely with the various barracks on these island bases. The team has assured me that each Destroyer with a Battalion of Anzac troops assigned to it. Some of these need to be collected from neighbouring islands, so they should be in operational regions some weeks after that. I am quite impressed with his resourcefulness.

Kiungchow is an egg that General B Scott and his 7th ANZAC Army hope to crack in the coming month or two. He has brought General Hill and his 9 artillery rgts into range, and bombardment has begun. It was really hoped that Major General Charles Barrett’s 45th Tankers Regiment, and his Battalions: ‘The Flying Wagga Light Tanks’ and the ‘Brumby Jack’s Light Tanks’ could once again storm the gates and take the town. Unfortunately they have been held up several hundred miles to the west, we have more Chinese troops on the march into the Saigon District. So to take Kiungchow, General B Scott has brought up quite a force of Anzac troops. Thus we should have this last egg cracked in the coming 6 to 7 weeks.

I have an interesting situation; Crown Prince Samsa Jimbangorjo of the Borneose Royal Family has joined up with the “The Sibu 19th Squadron". The fighter squadron of Sibu has been very active and we will be transferring these veterans to Hong Kong next month for the push up into North Eastern China. Royalty are a blessing and a curse, I have two British Royals in my theatre at this time, and they cost a certain amount of time to monitor etc. Anyway, just thought you should know, as he is a good friend of Douglas’ and could turn up anywhere.

Again I have turned to the operational school at "Duntroon" to war-game out the various options for taking the Northern Cities of China. Here I could use some advice. I would like to start seeding some of these former Chinese lands to China. Could you please look over the appropriate maps and let me know your feelings on this matter.

Squadron Leader David of the 17th Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) P38 Squadron has been having quite a good time over Formosa. My boffins keep talking up the ways of these great units. We have quite a few in production and a heavy force of them in Hong Kong at this time.

The following picture shows the base of Kiungchow that we are heading for. I have also highlighted 2 of the 4 sets of Chinese units moving into the Siagon Region.

Wishing you well in these most uncertain of times.

[Paddy]

October 1942 TOP SECRET
From East Coast Australia Allied Command Centre Sydney
To West Coast America Allied Command Centre San Francisco


Additional Mapp of some Key Australian Production Sites

[unscratchedfoot]

Keep the goods coming.

[ChrisiusMaximus]

Nice update and pics Paddy

[vovan]

What they said.

[dialectic2003]

November 1943 TOP SECRET
From West Coast America Allied Command Centre San Francisco
To East Coast Australia Allied Command Centre Sydney

Much has happened on the home front since I last sent a high level coded dispatch to you, my good friend in Australia. While we had our concentration transfixed on the fleet maneuvers and engagement with the mighty IJN battle fleet, there have been several developments that both set my heart at ease and chill me to the core. Our counter-intelligence operatives have been conducting an intense program of surveillance and undercover investigation to try to root out the subversives in our midst. We were first tipped off about something big being planned when we had apprehended a young male scouting out good positions for infiltration into the compound along the now patrolled exterior guard wire. Everyone is so jittery these days that it seems all our trust is gone, the MP’s at first were just going to tail him, but when he started to radio back information they immediately pounced and hauled him off to the stockade. Legally speaking we’re in a bit of a black hole here; there was no trespass on the base, but there was good reason for suspicion so they brought him in and advised our local FBI of the circumstances. FBI agents were down here in 15 minutes. It seems they didn’t have too many leads before this occurred. The incident was a godsend according to the director of the FBI, a Mr. Hoover. I have just gotten off the phone with him; now there is a strange man, alarming really, it sounded almost like he was interrogating me! At any rate, in the week and a half since we caught that spy the FBI have managed to track down and arrest an entire ring of domestic terrorists in league with the Axis of evil. Amongst those handcuffed and lead away there were plumbers, electricians, clerks, an office manager at our local telecommunications company and even a housewife (though luckily not my wife). Needless to say this has lightened the load off all the personnel here at the Supreme HQ Pacific including me, people are able to smile and greet one another cordially again as they pass in the corridors. All those fearful looks and suspicious glances were beginning to tell on both our emotions and work performance. Now that the war against the land of the rising sun has entered such a critical stage we need to have all our concentration and wits at the ready.

This now brings me to the issue that has struck at the very core of what it is to be American, the issue of internment. In light of the terrorist attack on our compound, nefarious actions and the threat of actions on the East coast added to the heightening tension from the war evident in all our communities, the President has issued an order for all Americans and visitors of Japanese or German descent to be rounded up and locked away in internment camps. The propaganda sells this move as both for their protection and ours, but I don’t see it that way. Though I may get into hot water over this one, I couldn’t help but advise you, our allies in the Commonwealth, in case you have personnel over here that match that description. For their sake, get them out and get them out now. This action has chilled me to the very marrow of my patriotic sentiment. If what I read from our agents in Nazi Germany is correct, it seems we have taken a leaf from their handling of the Jews, truly a disgusting development. Especially since all those that we have apprehended have in no way been connected with any stereotypical Japanese or German descent! Indeed, many Japanese-Americans have served their country with pride and distinction, one of which even helped raise the stars and stripes on Mt. Suribachi on that blasted infernal speck of an island, Iwo Jima. Not only have people been put in concentration camps, but also civil liberties are to be rolled back to aid in the war effort. This is a sad day for us, what will they think of next? I’m sorry to have gone off the handle a bit there, but I take this issue so very seriously as it is attacking the very foundation of why millions of soldiers, airmen and sailors fight so damn hard for this country.
Moving from the home front and into the Pacific, on the military dimension I have received some disturbing reports from the main fleet and the inbound TF Charlie elements. It seems that while our main fleet was regrouping and probing westerly on a search and destroy mission for the remnants of the IJN battle fleet broken up and scattered last month, the enemy heavy cruiser CA Chikuma and DD Shiranui both defied our predictions and slipped through our patrol nets into our supply lines. In 2 separate incidents they have fallen on our weaker communication and supply elements and slaughtered them.

When dawn broke on the morning of the 3rd of November, a radio transmission was received from a transport flotilla making its way North by Northwest along the coast of the Philippines towards our staging area of Aparri. A ‘Mayday! Mayday’ was received from 2 different transports, convoyed together to reduce the chance of Jap subs spotting them. One was empty and preparing to load up at Aparri for the attack on Formosa, the other held 2 of our finest attack units, the 8th and 9th medium tank regt., and 2 formations of the ever dependable and resilient marines, the 13th and 16th regt’s. This was a calamity Adm. King could not allow to befall us, especially as we were so close to beginning the landing preparations for the Formosa operation. He immediately dispatched the newly arrived, but battle ready veterans of the CA St Louis to intercept and destroy the enemy cruiser. During the several hours of steaming it took for the St Louis to reach the area from where the radio message was transmitted, several more ‘Mayday’ calls were received. Finally the ominous ‘SOS’ signal could be discerned from the harsh hiss of the wireless speaker back on the bridge of Adm. King’s flagship, the Enterprise. Some radio intercepts were then blasted over the bridge’s speakers, this time in Japanese. It sounded like a victory celebration on board the CA Chikuma was in full swing. Adm. King contacted the St Louis to check on its progress and to his alarm received no reply. Biting back his rising bile, he ordered out a squadron of patrol aircraft to check the vicinity, knowing full well that they had no chance of attacking the still dangerous CA Chikuma as it was one of the Jap’s finest cruisers in air defense.

The St Louis, however, far from having been destroyed, had steamed across those seemingly interminable nautical miles with abandon. As Adm. King ordered out his recon elements to check on the situation, the St Louis was in the midst of discovering a ghastly scene. On all sides the water lapping against the hull of the heavy cruiser carried with it small pieces of debris, the sort of small jagged metal that would come from a large group of 120-man troop ships. As the captain of the St Louis, a Commander G Thomas, scanned the horizon he could make out a dark shape, a heavy cruiser still listing to one side form a recent serious engagement. He could also discern several rockets being fired apparently from the open ocean around the enemy warship, ‘some of our boys are still alive and kicking!’ he thought and he immediately ordered his gunners to train their sights on the enemy vessel. Careful not to fire over the ship for the danger that presented to his comrades, he ordered his 12” guns loaded with AP timed to explode only after penetrating some 5-10 feet into the hull of the Chikuma. After some near misses, one shell struck home and utterly destroyed the bridge, while another went clean through the hull and into the engine room before detonating. Within a minute the Jap ship keeled over and sank to the briny depths. Though the brave souls manning the western transports had been killed almost to a man, with only 16 sailors rescued by the St Louis hanging onto assorted debris, their transports had carried no cargo. Luckily, the St Louis had reached the scene in time to stop the cruiser from sinking our other transports laden with war material. A huge sigh of relief escaped from Adm. King when he received the report from both his patrol aircraft and the commander of the St Louis. Things might not have seemed quite so dire had the radio aboard the heavy cruiser not malfunctioned, but Murphy’s law holds at all times and most especially in war.

Meanwhile, further north in Pacific, about mid-way between Formosa and Saipan, a battle was raging of an entirely different sort. Making their way across down to the main fleet were 3 battleships; the Oklahoma, the Arizona and the Tennessee; escorting the carrier Bunker Hill. The DD Paul Jones had swung north to aid the inbound reinforcements from Iwo Jima, and had been assigned the position of lead patrol escort and ASW vessel. After the severe firefight that was the battle of the previous weeks near the Philippines, the DD Paul Jones had significant damage to her rear turrets and boiler, but could still make decent speed and was battle worthy in all other respects. During the afternoon on the 2nd of November, the enemy destroyer DD Shiranhui had appeared from the sunward side and began shelling the lead escort destroyer of TF Charlie. Caught by surprise, the destroyer took 2 hits before being able to respond. Those 2 hits started fires below decks, one starting to rage near the engine room, the other on the bridge itself. In the panic of the sudden maelstrom of heat and smoke, the gunners were only able to register one minor hit, which glanced harmlessly off the side of the enemy destroyer. Though the Shiranhui was also damaged, she had taken the initiative in the encounter and was able to deliver several telling blows, before the 2nd officer of the DD Paul Jones issued orders to break off and retreat. The commander was dead and the radio wrecked; there seemed no hope for the destroyer and her crew. A final shell crunched into the hull of the vessel and she was done for, water began pouring in through the rent side and she was sinking fast. The order to abandon ship was given, many of the crew managed to get out only to be sucked down into the whirlpool the destroyer created when it finally went under.

Due to the lead-time the escort had given the carrier to try to keep enemy subs away from the most precious of naval assets. The local fleet commander, Adm. Spruance was wholly in the dark about the dreadful happenings not 20 nautical miles away. That was until he made his routine contact with each ship in the fleet and received naught but dead air from the DD Paul Jones. With alarm he ordered one of the fighter escorts making up his CAP to check out the situation up ahead. Soon thereafter his worst fears were realized when the aircraft spotted only a handful of survivors clinging to life rafts and the enemy destroyer fast approaching. He called up the captain of the BB Arizona and ordered him to intercept at full speed and destroy the enemy warship. Unfortunately, the carrier was only carrying F4F Wildcats, having been assigned an air dominance role in the North of the Pacific, so he had no torpedo bombers or dive bombers at his disposal. The BB Arizona made good speed, the engineers and boiler room crew surprising their commander and even themselves at the performance they had wrought. As he neared the scene he could make out the enemy destroyer on the horizon and proceeded to take this matter very personal indeed. His son served on the DD Paul Jones, and he had no way of knowing whether he was alive or dead. He went down to the gunner area himself and assisted with the alignment of the guns and calculation of the necessary trajectory. It was in no way a match or even contest, the battleships guns easily outranged those of the Jap destroyer and the armor was too thick for their guns to make much of an impression even if they were able to get shots off. The battleship fired 3 full broadsides and hit the destroyer 5 times. In mere moments the destroyer’s battered hull buckled under the weight of fire and simply collapsed, followed immediately by the rest of the ship into the sea.

This was the extent of the combat operations reported to me during the preceding weeks. I have sighted another enemy destroyer to the North of Iwo Jima and have dispatched a squadron of the new Jet fighters, the P-83 to reconnoiter and report. I may have to send back some of the main fleet’s newly arrived elements of TF Charlie if there is a sizable enemy force in that area, but at this stage I am confident that won’t be necessary.

One last point needs to be made here, concerning more the societal aspect of the outlying islands than the purely military dimension, though I have become convinced that to avoid uprisings and possible sabotage on our military assets in this region a calm society is necessary. The citizens of Puerto Princess are still starving due to a lack of interest in working in the fields and fisheries, while the still resisting populace of Saipan is in open revolt. I have decided to follow your lead in raising the expenditures on luxury items and lowering the tax burden on the people in an effort to alleviate some of the pain of boredom and bitterness, which simply lead to wholesale unhappiness. This has resulted in Puerto Princess returning to a calm unknown since before the invasion and subsequent food crisis. We have about 100 gold less every turn, but I can live with that if peace can be restored to these troubled lands.

In order to further coordination between our two mighty war machines toward the final realization of the ultimate objective, the demise of the Japanese as an aggressive imperial power, I would recommend that we organize a conference. Perhaps we could include attaches from our respective allies as well as our respective heads of the main military services. Please advise your thoughts on this matter. In relation to your request for advice on the ceding of territory to the Chinese, I would most heartily urge you to reconsider. As you are already apparently having problems with their troops blocking your railways, surely granting them a city (even if they did previously own it) would only make matters worse as far as I can see. Besides, when the war is over I suspect there may need to be a reckoning with the Chinese as there are rumblings of communist insurgents in the hills and cities. Indeed, just before the war Chiang Kai-Shek had been spending all his time trying to eradicate them and if Intel from that great unknowable land is correct, the Communists under Mao Zedong appear to be going from strength to strength in their popularity and organizational capabilities. Plans are already being drawn up for an invasion if need be, another good reason to ensure we have a strong base on Formosa and Okinawa. For all the above reasons, I would recommend holding on to all the Asian cities and strongholds you can. We can discuss this further at a conference if you are interested. Oh and by the by, good luck with Kungchiow!

Attached is an aerial shot of the CA St Louis, taken from a recon 4F4 Wildcat:

[Paddy]

November 1943 TOP SECRET
From East Coast Australia Allied Command Centre Sydney
To West Coast America Allied Command Centre San Francisco

Admiral Nimitz, your Naval actions have again brought great news to the people of the Commonwealth.

General B Scott – 7th ANZAC Army is preparing to strike out with a fine force of Anzac Infantry across Chinese lands towards the Japanese held cities of Hankow and Nanking. Supporting them are Major General Charles Barrett’s, 45th Tankers Regiment, and his Battalions: ‘The Flying Wagga Light Tanks’ and the ‘Brumby Jack’s Light Tanks,’ otherwise known as the gate crashers. We feel that they will be on the outskirts of these cities in the coming month. It is hoped that the Chinese will clear the roads of their blockades so that we can rush General Hill and his 9 artillery rgts from their bombardments of Kiungchow.

Negotiations are underway in Saigon with the Ambassador of China, Wing Chu, and your very own Douglas. The idea is to seed several of these southern cities in this district to the Chinese. We have worked out that we can free up fifteen Anzac battalions through giving back these cities. I will keep the Malaya Peninsula. So it is hoped that eleven Battalions will head up north soon. I appreciate your words on the Issues of Communism within China, yet on this matter the leaders of the Commonwealth would like us to work with the Chinese on repatriating their lands. We are not Chinese and know the many issues that have come from our history in Hong Kong.

As to Hong Kong, the Airbase there is bristling with The P38’s and P61’s Squadrons. I have spoken with Squadron Leader David of the 17th Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Squadron Leader David. He assures me that although they do not have a lot of room, they are quite happy to share and crowd in throughout this period. These squadrons have continued in their bombardment of Formosa. We believe that you are close to taking Formosa. When you have taken Formosa, the Squadrons will transfer their attention to Hankow.

Admiral Wally Peterson and his Task Force 35 are still split across the South China Seas. I look forward to them regrouping in Hong Kong. General Collins and his 9th ANZAC Army, on the transporters in Task Force 35, will be just itching for some more action by the time all of the transporters have landed in Hong Kong. Please keep these valued units in mind for the coming months.

Admiral Hollingsworth’s Destroyer Squadron are still on their way.

[ChrisiusMaximus]

Paddy and Dialetic, once again well done lads!!

There is still some way to go but I just want to emphsise my real enjoyment of this epic joint effort of yours.

It has been an enduring pleasure over the last weeks to be able to read the regular updates in this work, and you have both done us proud, BRAVO

[unscratchedfoot]

The navy parts are good. The spy and terrorism stuff though detracts from the story in my opinion. It feels like a very unwelcome interruption to the overall war situation. I like the tank regiment names though, very classy.

Keep the story flowing like a good wound.

[Kaos XIII]

Great, keep going!

[Paddy]

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Apologises to our readers...

Due to issues in the RW... this game / story is on indefinite hold.

The American and Commonwealth Governments look forward to bringing you the final destruction of the Japanese home islands at some stage. You will see it here first.

Thank you one and all, for your vaste encouragement and many posts of support

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

[vovan]

Well done so far. I just hope to get another dispatch of news some time soon.

[Paddy]

Chinese troops under instruction in the arts of close in combat.

As the Commonwealth gather a greater foot hold, and as the mighty American war machine gathers momentum, the Chinese Armed Forces builds and trains for the continued flushing of the mainland and then for the eventual push on the Japanese Home Islands.

[dialectic2003]

We are back in action after a hefty hiatus. Enforced interludes of this magnitude are enough to make one extremely

Enjoy

[dialectic2003]

December 1943 TOP SECRET
From West Coast America Allied Command Centre San Francisco
To East Coast Australia Allied Command Centre Sydney

Colonel Garrett looked out over the faces of his assembled officers and imparted the orders recently received from Supreme HQ. ‘Take the Northern half of Okinawa to clear the hills and ridges of enemy and establish bridgeheads for the main army, due from Formosa in the coming months. Take note of the radar station, we intend to make use of this in due course; ensure its capture in good condition. According to our intel, the enemy force consists of only one regular line infantry regt. dug in on the hills surrounding the radar station. Aerial surveillance shows very few above ground entrenchments; watch out for caves, defiles and ambushes. The attack force consists of the 6th Marine Div, the 4th marine regt leading the first wave, while the 5th and 6th marines form the second and reserve waves respectively. Further orders to follow on receipt of your sit-rep. Good luck.’

Moving over to the chart table, the Colonel traced the contours of the rough hilly terrain his troops were going to have to take. ‘The best way to reach that radar station while taking care of the flanks is the wedge formation, company then platoon.’ Turning to the CO of his 1st bn, Major Hanrahan, Garrett gave his instructions ‘Emphasis should be on firepower and mobility, suppress with heavy infantry and recon elements and close for reduction. Bypass the heavy time investment targets for the wings of the following battalions; time is of the essence as the Japs may have charges set on our main objective. Make sure to capture that facility quickly and intact. H-hour is 0530 so have your troops loaded and en route to the shore marked on your map by 0515. Any questions? Go get your men ready.’ With a quick nod, Garrett then quickly moved on to his other bn CO’s to appraise them of their own orders to support the lead formation and clear the flanks of enemy. Soon the meeting was over and the officers departed to their units to set about readying their troops for the next days attack. The Colonel then met with Rear Admiral Halsley to discuss and plan the preparatory bombardment target list and timing pattern.

The word from on high Hanrahan eventually filtered down to 1lt Underhill about an hour later, at 2235. The plan seemed simple enough; his 2rd platoon, Charlie Co. would be detached and assigned to Alpha Co., forming the middle of the wedge attack. He called over his crew and told them how it was: ‘We’re hitting the beach at 0530; so be up, fed and ready by 0505. Plan calls for us to be in the lead Co., we need to move quickly and secure the Northern half of Okinawa. We’re relying on maximum mobility so leave unessential items behind; personal effects can be registered with the ship’s hold. Intel reckons the enemy resistance to be light, there appears to be only one regular infantry regt. entrenched on our front, but we need to capture that radar facility at grid ref 1020G1 fast. Get some sleep; we hit the transports at 0515, I’ll see you guys at 0505.’ With a quick glance around his platoon, 1lt Underhill dismissed the men and set about finishing his preparations so he could get down to the hold and win back that $20 he’d lost at poker the night before.

As the sea swelled and ebbed around the transport ship and the sky began to lighten in anticipation of a new day; the attack force readied itself for the next operation. As the transport’s kitchen got into full swing with meals being prepared and served for thousands of marines, the nearby battleship Oklahoma began the saturation shelling that was to pave the way for the assault. The entire complement of heavy guns from both the battleship and the escort destroyer Laffey let loose salvo after salvo at targets on the beach and hinterland invasion area. The plan was for the bombardment to be relatively short, only an hour or so, before sending in the troops under its cover. ‘The damage might not be as heavy, but the suppression should be as significant as if they were being shelled for 10 times as long. This way, we still maintain the element of surprise and prevent the Japs from moving up reinforcements while we’re still on the beach.’ Rear-Adm. Halsley explained to a skeptical CO of the 6th marine division, General Davidson. The General eventually agreed and they orchestrated the coverage from the creeping barrage that was to protect the troops. His main stipulation was that in addition to the preset creeping barrage, there was to be at least 2 batteries of 16” guns and 4 of 12” ready to support the ground troops in the actual combat phase of the operation, each Co. having a radio liaison to convey grid references and fire adjustments back to the fleet.

H-hour saw the assembled mass of men and machines start toward the beach invasion zone. The preparatory bombardment seemed to have been remarkably successful for, as the men got closer and closer to their touchdown points, they could see the moonscape that was once an idyllic bay and beach. Indeed, the bombardment had been so successful that there was no opposition to hinder the marines initial landing and push into the hinterland; all life was wrecked and wasted before them. Soon the troops of the 4th regt had reached their first objective line along the axis separating beach from hinterland and were beginning to fill out the flanks to probe for enemy and prepare for the dash for the radar facility.

The attack companies formed up and moved to their assigned jumping off positions within the narrow beachhead perimeter. The light early mist was beginning to give way down by the beach, but was still impeding full visibility up in the hills surrounding their final objective. ‘Let’s move!’ yelled the CO of the Alpha Co. Signaling to his men to spread out and be on the look out for enemy ambushes, Captain B Rogers scanned the looming ridges and hillsides to his front for any sign of the enemy. The advance was carried out successfully and without opposition for the first few miles, but when the lead Co. reached the valley at the foot of the inner ring of hills the enemy made his presence felt. For, while the troops had been rushing to capture the radar station intact they had been forced to cast much of their normal wariness and precaution to the winds, just as the enemy had been preparing a trap of cruel efficiency and deadly intent.

Rifle fire rang out from their front and was suddenly joined by accurate mortar fire. When a recon team was sent forward to gauge the level of opposition several MG’s opened up from hidden emplacements somewhere in their forward 90-degree arc. The mist was thoroughly translucent now and disappearing fast, the Jap soldiers taking full advantage and wiping out the recon element to a man. In that lead attack company of perhaps 150 men all movement stopped as men hit the dirt and hugged whatever cover they could find. As the marines squirmed around their suddenly deadly environment searching for a good vantage point to fire from, a fresh misery was unleashed upon them. Enemy MG and rifle fire began picking troops in that lead Co off from caves to their rear. Now there was no place to shelter from the withering mortar fire and hot lead flying through the air. Bullets ricocheting and bombs exploding created a deafening cacophony of battle sounds, sowing a wave of destruction as well as sending deadly shrapnel through trees, dirt, flesh and bone. Defying the chaos, Captain B Rogers kept his calm and began giving orders to his confused troops. ‘Bacon, go round and smoke the hole behind us, make sure he cant see out of his little rabbit warren to shoot us. Underhill, take your 2 30 cal MGs and set up over by that clump of tree stumps, we need good suppressing cover fire on the enemy MG’s and rifle positions to our front so we can continue this advance. Wait till we have a good smokescreen before setting up though, I need you boys alive’

Taking advantage of a small lee in the ground between his position and a point some 40 yards from the base of the cliff housing the suddenly dangerous caves, Bacon managed to crawl his way to his assigned objective and release his 2 smoke grenades. The first bounced to the wrong side and was wasted, but the second managed to land squarely underneath the target. When the smokescreen had been sufficiently established, he gave the hand signal to Capt Rogers, who then passed his message on to the crouched 1lt Underhill some 20 feet further on. ‘Cover fire!’ Rogers yelled and five men were up and firing; blindly yes, but they were firing. When they came back down to reload 3 were casualties, but by then the .30 cal MG was established and laying down a steady stream of hot lead on the main enemy rifle and MG line. Sensing a slackening of the enemy fire, Capt Rogers ordered an engineer team to take some satchel charges and blow the rear cave to kingdom come. With their vision obscured by the smokescreen the Japs had quickly departed from the front of the cave, they knew what was coming. It didn’t really matter though, the cave entrance was smashed and no further hostile fire would be coming from that position.

With their rear now secure again the Marines were able to move forward much more quickly. Leapfrogging by team, squads and platoons they cleared the main enemy fire positions with a quick lob of grenades and Thompson SMG fire. Shortly after that they were rushing the last of the inner ring hills, clearing the sporadic resistance they encountered. When they reached the radar station perimeter, the only enemy to be found had apparently committed ritual seppuku as the demolition charges they had set failed to go off. Seems the enemy’s main line of resistance had been on the beachhead, but was successfully obliterated, for once, by the awesome power of the 16” guns. The rush to take the radar station had been costly in terms of casualties, some 30% of the total force detailed to lead the attack did not make it back to roll call that evening. But it would soon prove invaluable in terms of interdicting the Jap interior lines of communication between the southern island bases, the Jap armies in China and the home islands themselves.

The other developments in the previous few weeks since our last correspondence have been very quiet, with thankfully very little in the way of combat action to report. We have brought our main invasion fleet around from the West and East of the Phillippines and successfully landed the main ground components in two large fortified areas on the island of Formosa. This begins the assault on the home island chain proper. The force consists of the 5th Marine Division with the new 2nd Armoured Division in support. The artillery and other support elements for this invasion force are quite extensive and we feel quietly confident of a quick success.

The naval fleet operations have been limited to supporting the ground attack component of our strategy. The last 2 months actions seem to have broken the back of the IJN and there does not appear to be any major enemy fleet elements threatening to disrupt our plans at this juncture. Having said that, we are ever vigilant in case the indomitable Japs do have a trick or two up their proverbial naval sleeve. The fleet has been sorted in to 2 main battle fleets: the Lexington and Yorktown, with BB Oklahoma and CA Chicago as escorts, are defending the northern approaches between Okinawa and Komi ensuring early warning of any move South by any remnants of the IJN. The main battle fleet is in the south guarding the invasion forces and approaches to the Phillippines, which General D. MacArthur is adamant must have all available resources defending it. This main fleet consists of the Enterprise and Saratoga with the vast bulk of the ships of the line, the battleships and cruisers. These elements will open a world of hurt on the defenders of Formosa in the weeks to come.

I appreciate your assistance in maintaining a close air suppression and reduction of the enemy’s Formosa garrison, I believe this will help greatly in speeding our impending assault. Also, I have discussed the idea with my superiors and wholeheartedly support your suggestion of repatriation of the Southern Chinese cities. Any and all efforts must be made to end this war as soon as possible. If we have to negotiate with the Communists eventually so be it. In the near term we’ll have to make do and defeat the Japs first and worry about the commies later. Besides there still hope in the eventual victory of Nationalists, especially with the ridiculous amount of aid we are sending them. I am heartened to read your dispatch as always, keep up the good work and we’ll be sharing that beer before Christmas ’44.

[dialectic2003]

Elements of 1st Battalion, 4th Regiment, 6th Marine Division embarked in landing craft and en route to the beaches

[ChrisiusMaximus]

Fantastic ti have you back

Kep it coming

[Paddy]

December 1943 TOP SECRET
From East Coast Australia Allied Command Centre Sydney
To West Coast America Allied Command Centre San Francisco


Admiral Nimitz, yet again your actions have again brought great news to the people of the Commonwealth. We be quite glad to have you as allies in this conflict.

General B Scott – 7th ANZAC Army has two solid columns moving through the hills north east of canton, heading into the Jap held region of Hankow. They would make better time, except for the Chinese units that they are sharing the borderlands with.
Major General Charles Barrett, 45th Tankers Regiment, 7th Anzac Army, and his Battalions: ‘The Flying Wagga Light Tanks’ and the ‘Brumby Jack’s Light Tanks’ continue within the columns, yet they are champing at the bit to re-engage the Jap
General Hill and his 9 artillery rgts have joined the columns.

Squadron Leader David, 17th Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Fighter Wing, reports that the massive build up of P38’s and P61’s in and around Hong Kong continues at a steady rate. So far they have inflicted quite a mauling to Jappa forces within the region of Hankow – Nanking to Formosa through to Okinawa.
They have sent some great details of your invasion of Formosa – may the powers be with you and you people in this endeavour.
Along with reports that your Marines are fighting hard on Okinawa J

Admiral Wally Peterson and his TF 35 & 39 continue steaming across the South China Seas for Hong Kong, with the 9th Anzac Army. They will make a welcome relieve in the battle to clear the mainlands of the Jap.

Task Force 35
BB Prince of Wales
BB Repulse
CA Canberra
DD Marget’s
Tr Coogee
Tr Curl Curl

Task Force 39
CA Canberra
CA Dragon
CA Leander
CA Exeter
Tr Ruby Jane

There is still no final word on when Admiral Hollingsworth Destroyer Squadron will be completed and fully operational. Several boats have been completed and are rushing to the South China Seas as you read this. They are carrying out there trails while at sea, and will utilize the various ports along the way for any work that they cannot complete by themselves.

Kuala Lumpur has a new water station completed. This will finally allow the population to expand and growth at last without the disease of yesteryear.

Other news has the Transport Wanda departing Darwin for Hong Kong. She is carrying 3 new flak units and the Daly Waters Medium Tank Regiment.

The discussions of repatriating areas to China continue with Wing Chu, the Ambassador of China. Yet while we talk they continue to flood the area with their troops. I must say that some of my commanders in this region are feeling the push and shove of Chinese Infantry and Tank units. They have taken strongholds, choke points in the road and rail systems, and also several outer airfields. It is quite a shame that they are not utilizing these massive forces in the advance on the Jappa positions to our north. Though I must admit I have little to complain about with these matters, after all it is there country that the Jap and my forces hold.

Please find enclosed a picture of British Prime Minister Churchill with two of his favourite vices, a cuban cigar and a yankee tommy gun Thought this would give your lads a good chuckle to see one of our leaders on the hunt.

and a Beer before Christmas ’44, sounds like a grand plan.

Your Allie to the end…

[Mad Bomber]

Paddy and dialectic

ye weave a good tale. I like the historical feel to the piece.


I hope you will allow me to make a few minor points:
1)In WWII, Destroyers were armed with 5" guns as their heavy armament, Heavy Cruisers were armed with 8" guns.

2) Any ship armed with larger guns were termed Battlecruisers (HMS Hood, HMS Repulse) Pocket Battleships (Lutzow, Sharnhorst, Gniesenau) or Large Cruisers (also termed 'Super Heavy Cruisers) which consisted of the American Alaska class.

3) A 16 inch shell weighs in excess of 2000lb's, nearly all of this weight is the warhead of the shell.

[dialectic2003]

My Apologies, its been a long time between drinks so to speak.

Theres a couple of reasons for it, none of which rate a mention. Suffice it to say its taken me some time to get the inspiration for the latest instalment

At any rate I hope you enjoy

[dialectic2003]

January 1944 TOP SECRET
From Allied Command Centre San Francisco America
To Allied Command Centre Sydney Australia

A new year has dawned bringing with it more stark evidence that the end to this titanic struggle is now approaching. Added to this joyous realization is the painful memory of all our comrades who won’t be celebrating with us; their sacrifice shall not be in vain, their legacy will not be forgotten. Now is not the time for idle reverie however, let us concentrate all the more fully on hastening our adversary’s demise.

Perusing the intelligence garnered from our recently captured radar installation on Okinawa, I could see yet more evidence confirming our gathering belief that the enemy was on the ropes and required little more than a hard push to end the hostilities. I could see no Jap activity, either on land or at sea. It appeared as if the enemy had just gone to ground and disappeared. Surely they must have re-supply and logistics networks maintaining the garrisons of their ever-shrinking empire? While the radar outpost wasn’t showering us with a plethora of targets to choose from, it did serve its function and it allowed us to be a little more aggressive in our planning as now we had no reason to suspect any enemy surprises were just around the corner.

To that end I ordered General Davidson’s 6th marine division to make for Okinawa and to seize the port by coup de main. While the radar didn’t allow us to inspect closely the garrison of this sizable chunk of pacific real estate, I was willing to wager that the Jap’s would be so shell shocked by developments over the course of the last 3-4 months that the level of resistance would be minimal. Also, whereas before when the division was tasked with the capture of the radar outpost there was an element of haste added to the mission requirements, now the marines could take their time. In addition, we have allotted a further battalion of guns to the divisional artillery support complement.

The plan was relatively simple, attack on a two-regiment front with the under-strength 4th regiment in reserve. The artillery was to lay down a heavy suppressing fire and then to send in a smokescreen for about half way to the main line objectives for the first days march. The terrain was quite rugged on Okinawa. In some parts, notably in the north where the original landing had been conducted, much of the land is a fertile floodplain where rice paddies compete with hills for space. As the attack made its way south however the officers and men had been briefed to expect difficult ground, with ridgelines interspersed with deep gullies and easily fortified caves and culverts. The likelihood for ambush had left General Davidson little choice but to order his men to stay close together to provide mutually supporting cover fire. To compensate a little the General had managed to source and distribute extra material and rations for his men. Additional grenades, flamethrowers and satchel charges were all warmly welcomed, though not has heartily as the special ration of 2 cans of Australian beer per man for the next 2 days. This was given out with a hot meal the night before the main attack was to be launched, and the soiree put a little more fire in 6th marine divisions bellies as they prepared to push on south and capture the remainder of Okinawa island.

The attack began poorly as the 5th regiment on the right flank had some delay in making their allotted jumping off points and the 6th regiment had not been informed in a timely fashion. To compound the problem, carnage erupted in the 6th regiments rear areas when some artillery support from the assembled battle fleet was improperly targeted and fired prematurely, killing some 12 members of the 2nd bn’s HQ unit. At the time the source of the fire was not immediately known and so the advance was held up significantly while the CO sent out recon elements to make sure they didn’t have an enemy forward artillery observer on their front. By 1300 hours though all had resumed the appearance of a fluid military operation and the division reached the approaches to the main port on Okinawa. Little or no opposition had been encountered on the south apart from some desultory mortar shelling and some cleverly hidden snipers.

General Davidson brought up his divisional HQ and artillery observer elements and ordered the marines to resume the advance towards the port, but to stop and await orders when a mile outside the port outskirts. When the CO of the 5th marine regiment received his orders some 20 minutes later, he was advised to double time it to his objective and there to await the smokescreen and suppression shelling. When he received his go code he was to assault en echelon by company and seize the port. While the assembled men of the 5th and 6th marine regiments waited for the order to advance, they sat back and watched the awesome fireworks display that had been the port’s main ammo dump, hit by a single shell from the battle fleet just off shore. A normal 8” shell routinely does a weighty amount of damage, however, the results of this particular salvo were truly awe inspiring and made the marines glad to a man that they weren’t caught anywhere near the blast radius within the port.

Soon after the shells began to rend the air and their explosive detonations began to wreak the ground the first smoke canister shells were landing. Shortly after the first five or so had reached the ground and started releasing their chemical cargo, a thick fog of swirling gas had gathered on the attacks front. While the men could no longer see the enemy positions, they could still hear the deafening maelstrom of explosive carnage ripping through the base. Moments later the go code was received.

Upon seeing the last of smoke shells land and discharge its obscuring contents the commanders of the lead companies ordered their men up out of their positions and to advance toward the objective. The terrain to their front was a gently downward sloping hillside, strewn with rocks and some dry creek beds but devoid of any major vegetation that might lend itself as cover to the advancing Americans. About three quarters of a mile away the smokescreen was blocking the enemy view, but also stopped any possible suppression of Jap positions by US elements among the ground assault force. The plan was for the naval bombardment, still ongoing, to accomplish enemy disruption with heavy and medium fleet guns. The base was only about two maybe three hundred yards beyond the far side of the smoke screen, this was to be crossed at the double by the two assaulting regiments with one company from each of the wings of the reserve 4th regiment to be detailed to maintain a fire base from the far edge of the smokescreen.

The distance to the smokescreen was covered without major incident, the smokescreen doing an admirable job of preventing any accurate enemy direct fire from disrupting the marine advance. There certainly were casualties on the approach though, the enemy had pre-registered mortar and machine gun emplacements that had apparently not been knocked out or suppressed as readily as had been hoped. The companies on the interior wings of the lead and successive assault waves were the hardest hit. Able company from 5th regiment on the right received the roughest treatment and was severely pinned after it lost some twenty or so enlisted and an officer when an 81mm mortar volley intersected with a fire lane from a medium machine gun and tore up two platoons. Though some elements were pinned, none broke and so the attack maintained a good momentum as the ground to the smokescreen was quickly covered.

‘As soon as you reach the other side of the smokescreen and can sight the base and enemy positions, set up a fire base until such time as the 4th regiment can reach your position’ General Davidson had ordered his regimental commanders just prior to beginning the assault. The importance of accurate direct fire to suppress the enemy in support of a general advance was not lost on these seasoned marine officers and so this is exactly what they set about doing. Companies were ordered to establish their front with .30 cal machine gunners and Browning Automatic Rifle squads prone and laying down the fire, while their rifle and recon teams were ordered to begin crawling toward the base to start leapfrogging to their objectives. The enemy positions showed some signs of having been suppressed by the heavy shelling just passed, but it was patchy to say the least. On the right the base appeared to be intact, a series of buildings and fortified positions interspersed with slit trenches and foxholes. The Japs were making good use of their cover to lay down a significant amount of fire on the Americans. This was in fact aided by the shorter than expected life span of the smokescreen, which had now lifted and revealed the onrushing US forces in all their stark vulnerability. The left front quadrant side of the base however, seemed to be almost completely wreaked, there were no buildings remaining just a few scattered entrenchments, and the Japs were putting them to good use. It seems that for all that sound and fury, the fleet’s shelling had fallen just wide of the center of the base. The ammo dump had been a good score for the US forces and had obviously resulted in the near eradication of the left front section of the base, but the remaining quadrants were relatively unscathed and capable of putting up a decent fight.

The forward elements of the 4th regiment finally made their way to the fire base position and established their machine gun and BAR squads to exert as much suppressive fire as possible on the suddenly fully active and responsive Jap stronghold. The 5th and 6th regiments left many of their .30 cal and, now set up, 60mm mortar teams in position to aid in the reduction of the firepower being hurled at the now much slowed US advance. Bracing their men with exhortations to remember their duty and to fight on in semper fidelis style, the commanders of both regiments ordered their men up and out of their treasured skerricks of cover and to double time to the enemy position. No US marine failed to heed the call, they did exactly as ordered and began their rush at the entrenchments surrounding the enemy position. Firing from the hip to try to keep the Jap’s heads down, some 2000 men charged down that last 200 meters like their lives depended on it, which in many ways it did. To falter at such a time was not only to risk your own life but that of your buddies; if anybody felt fear they didn’t show it.

Men fell in ones and twos at first, then as they got closer and the machine guns, mortars and rifle fire swept through their ranks the US marines started to fall in clumps. But before the enemy got a chance to do any significant damage to the formation as a whole, and before the grunts got a good look at how many casualties they were suffering, the marines had rushed up to the first trench and foxhole line and engaged the enemy in close combat. Flamethrowers roared; pistols, submachine guns and rifles blasted, even the lowly bayonet was put to good use clearing the first line of fanatical bushido warriors. Now that the main defences were concentrating their fire on the forward squads of US soldiers, the assembled firebase of the 6th marine division was able to pick off the remaining defenders in the bunkers and other fortifications with relative ease. With the first line of defences firmly in the marines grasp the regimental and divisional commanders moved forward and disseminated the final orders for the capture of the enemy facility.

Word passed from General Davidson that the 6th regiment was tasked with swinging around the flank of the base to fix the enemy while the other 2 regiments were to clear the entrenchments with fire and maneuver tactics frontally. Alternating by platoon between fire positions and rushing the next cover, the rest of the base was taken with ease. The Japs even began to surrender; in droves no less, once their commander had taken his own life. The casualties amongst our boys was exacerbated by the harsh approach route required, made much worse by the abject lack of cover and slight descent to the objective, but also by the abrupt early dispersal of our precious smokescreen concealment. Even with these negative conditions the total wounded, KIA and MIA was two hundred and ninety three men out of the two forward regiments; a tragic but acceptable scale of losses for the objective attained.


Attached photo is of the Marines of the 5th Regiment inspecting disabled fortifications after the Okinawan base was captured

[dialectic2003]

January 1944 - Continued TOP SECRET
From Allied Command Centre San Francisco America
To Allied Command Centre Sydney Australia

The month of January held other, no less desirable jewels to conquer, foremost among them was the air sea base at Formosa. The Southernmost major Jap base remaining distinct from the home islands, the large island base was the last major repair and refueling station for the IJN and fast dwindling air arm of the Japanese armed forces. Shaped roughly akin to a tobacco leaf, the island of Formosa is around 390kms long and 140kms wide at its broadest point. Though quite hilly, with many forested peaks, the island is geographically easily defined between the high ground stretching over four fifths of the island and the terraced flatlands and coastal plains occupying the strip of land along the West and Southwest portion of the island. After careful study of the lay of the land, the commanding officer in charge of the invasion of Formosa base, Admiral King, ordered in late December 1943 for his subordinates to prepare for a landing and push inland from the North West section of the Western coastline. This area offered the most promising opportunities as it was devoid of frustrating mud flats and population centers.

The force consisted of three regiments of medium tanks and two of light tanks, making up the 2nd Armored division. Supporting this mailed fist was the 3rd Marine division and 5th Infantry division, which contained not only a wide array of reliable tough infantrymen, but also a battalion of combat engineers. Not wanting to let anything to chance Admiral King had requisitioned all of the captured Jap retribution batteries and regular US artillery complements available to his sector, planning to unleash a blistering inferno of metal on the inhabitants of Formosa. Which, by the way show every sign of being successfully suppressed by your superior bombing arm in the region, many thanks to you and your brave airmen.

The landing was conducted without fuss early in the morning on the 30th of Dec, the enemy had apparently decided the better part of valor lie in remaining alive to defend the base and so there was not a soul present to oppose the landing of this mighty force. Once safely ashore and all prepared, the land commander, Major General Sam Buckner, laid out his plan of attack for his command team. ‘The plan of attack calls for the massive artillery preparation and softening up operation beginning at 0500 hours on the 3rd of January and proceeding for the next two weeks. I will not brook any danger to the troops under my command if at all possible, to that end I have brought forward considerable stockpiles of the required munitions and we will hammer these dang blasted Japs until we are blue in the face or there isn’t anything left to shoot at! When the artillery preparations are complete we will initiate the assault with the 10th Med. Armored regiment accompanied by the 23rd combat engineer battalion. The 8th Med Armored and 14th Light Armored will follow up supported by the 12th Infantry. I don’t anticipate any need for these extra troops but we’ll see.’ Leaning over the map board and chomping on his cigar, dripping a little ash on the board as he did so, he solemnly intoned ‘Take good care of your men, we’re close now I can feel it. Any Questions? Dismissed.’

And so it began, a shelling to rival that hurled at the Russian city of Leningrad in the current war or the fortress of Verdun in the First World War. Though certainly not as prolonged nor over the same geographical space, but definitely alike in intensity. There was almost a corps of artillery pieces battering the sorry defenders of the Formosa base, pounding the once sturdy entrenchments and exterior walls to rubble and then bouncing the rubble. For two long and stultifying weeks the assault force prepared mentally and physically for the attack, PT followed by marches followed by instruction, the only break being their chow time and shut-eye.

Then it was time. The Sherman M4A3s and M10 Wolverines of the 10th Med Armored regiment, closely shadowed by the 23rd combat engineers battalion set out for the outskirts of the enemy held base. At first the going was quick and uninterrupted. The plan was to proceed southeastward to the main base along the coast to the southern tip of the island, there to engage and destroy the enemy wherever he was found. Apart from the occasional sniper and mortar attacks there were no contacts, allowing the infantry to ride the tanks for much of the distance. In this fashion the going was much more rapid than foreseen, bringing the force three quarters of the way to the base well ahead of schedule. Upon approaching the final two kilometers before the base, a halt was called to allow the main body of the assault group to catch up and take up positions for the push.

Not eight hundred meters further along the road were the outlying positions of the Japanese main defense line protecting Formosa’s naval base. Hoping to catch the Americans unawares and thus deal a savage blow to any ambitions for a quick and bloodless sweep of the island, the Jap commander, General Yamaguchi, had set out his meager complement of units in a relatively shallow defense cordon extending in a rough semi-circle some fifteen hundred meters from the base periphery. Though there were never enough forces at the Japanese commanders disposal after the summer of 1943, the infantry arm of his defense force was still quite strong, with two regiments of rifle infantry and a third of guerrilla bands. Backing up his command he had the 34th flak battalion and the 15th Artillery regiment. All of this Intel regarding the Jap positions came through to us in the unit commanders report after the action, having captured some important documents regarding Jap dispositions, strengths and procedures in General Yamaguchi’s headquarters facility.

When all the combat engineers and tank formations had assembled in their respective jumping off positions the order to advance was given. The attack would be made along a narrow attack vector with a single company frontage, the tanks immediately behind and supporting the engineers. The terrain to be traversed was decent tank country; rolling hills of slight gradient interspersed with copses of trees, some small and sparse, others large and dense. There was very little difficult or rough broken ground. Rumbling into life the tankers and their machines moved out, remaining a short distance behind the front lines of the advancing infantry to avoid a repeat performance of the minefield debacle on Saipan. There would be no more lounging on top of the tanks for the engineers, they were foot soldiers once more and had to slog it out for the remainder of the two thousand meters to the objective. After progressing only about three hundred meters from their start line, the front recon elements of the lead company encountered sporadic sniper fire from the copse of trees off to their far left. Losing a platoon leader and several men, the unit hit the dirt and remained pinned down until two Sherman tanks, positioned thirty meters behind, had been brought up and started randomly shelling the copse. This relieved the pressure on the lead recon platoon, and, after some hasty rearrangement and a battlefield promotion of the recon platoon’s veteran Sergeant, the advance was able to resume. The sniper would have to be bypassed frontally and then a unit detached to sweep the woods after the main body of the invasion forces had caught up with the assault detachment.

Having advanced another hundred meters or so the engineers were fired on again, this time from concentrated mortar fire. The effects were deadly. The attacking American forces were fairly well spread to avoid just this type of attack; however there was a particular spot where the natural lay of the land forced the troops to be congregated in a small area. The engineers were fording a small creek, which didn’t even appear on the survey maps they were issued, when shells began raining down on both sides of the watercourse. The high pitched tone created by a mortar round whistling through the air at speed was bad enough, but when coupled with the subsequent crack of the impact and boom of the detonation the effect could be as devastating to the morale of the men as the shell and shrapnel were to their bodies. Unlike the previous encounter with the sniper there was no obvious source of the fire to be silenced, and so men and machine just had to make their way through the deadly storm as best they could. After ten to fifteen minutes of fairly intensive shelling the Japs stopped firing, probably because they wanted to conserve ammunition for when the Americans got close. Regardless, with five dead, twelve seriously wounded and the advance delayed until medics had attended the men, the Japs had dealt a significant blow to the US advance without suffering a casualty.

After some 25 minutes and hurried medic evacuations, the commander of the forward company, Capt Winters, ordered his men to resume the advance to the objective and sent a radio message to his commanding officer Major Sink that he had come under heavy mortar fire and that the following formations will want to be wary of the small creek just passed, it obviously had been pre-registered for the Japs artillery. That done Winters called out to his men to spread out even more than usual just to avoid any more mortar attacks having such an impact for so little effort from the Japs. The rolling hills seemed to stretch on and on in front of the combat engineers and tankers of the assault force, a ceaseless verdant undulation all the way to the horizon, only intermittently punctured by dark patches of woods. Having been hit by accurate pre-registered mortar fire, Winters was wary of an ambush up ahead and so advised his men to move up slowly while he and his adjutant crept forward for a quick reconnoiter. No sooner had he moved forty yards ahead of his main line than he identified through his field glasses the outline of the main Jap defensive works. They were positioned in the tree-line on either side and along one of the many slight crests that stood between the engineers and their objective, just beyond the horizon.

Assembling his platoon leaders Winters laid out his approach plan for the clearing of the newly discovered Jap positions, first and second platoons were to make the assault on the left while third platoon maintained a base of fire to pin the defenders down. The assistance of the armored force supporting the combat engineers was vital, both in the approach, in the suppression of the enemy and their ultimate destruction. With Bravo and Charlie companies following behind Winters’ Alpha Company, the left of the enemies main line was breached with relative ease. Few casualties were incurred on the approach and when the Americans did engage the employment of flamethrowers (to force the enemy out of hardened positions) and satchel charges (to break those that didn’t relent) kept the toll on American lives to a minimum.

Once the line was breached and the way to the main Formosa base lay open, there was a failure in communications between the armored and infantry arms of the attack force. The tankers had their blood up and were all for charging the base and ending the fight operationally, whereas the combat engineers were instead intent on reducing the enemy where they stood. In the Pacific theatre the engineers knew things to be a little different from things in the European theatre, where the med tank unit had recently been employed in North Africa. Against the Germans a thrust through the main defense line and into the enemy’s command and control center would necessitate the retreat of the enemies’ remaining forward elements. Against the Japanese, however, a breakthrough was all well and good, but it didn’t mean anybody was pulling back or surrendering if unable to do so. Far from it, any success by the Americans simply seemed to be encouragement for them to fight even harder. Thus, when the tankers saw that they were through the thin defensive line they rushed off and attacked the base, hoping to stop the enemy from pulling back and establishing another strong defensive position. Regrettably, this simply allowed the Japanese to concentrate on the remaining engineers and they proceeded to unleash heavy machine gun and rifle fire on the suddenly unsupported combat engineers. Due to the pace of their initial advance the engineers and med tanks in the first wave had put a significant distance between themselves and the next formation in the assault, the 8th medium tank regt.

So after the initial shock of seeing their well protected comrades drive off and soon coming under accurate direct fire, the US combat engineers began to follow their training and work together in small teams to destroy the enemy resistance. Hugging what cover they could, maintaining fire bases long enough to allow the assault team with flamethrower and demolition charges to rush the suppressed enemy positions and then moving onto the next one; simply put, the American forces followed their training doctrine to the letter and were inching their way one foxhole at a time closer to clearing the line of the Japanese. Though they were meeting with some success, the precipitate advance of the tanks had left the infantry without support and they were paying for their advance in blood. Capt Winters lead company was doing everything in its power to clear the crest of Japanese but they were down to 45 effectives and were coming close to the limits of their endurance. Just when things were getting bleak for the engineers and Major Sinks 2iC was killed trying to get in close and report on the conditions for regimental command, the Americans savior arrived in the form of the large high profile of a M4A3 coming over the hill not a hundred yards behind them. With the additional firepower of the Medium tanks and the M5A1 Stuarts close behind, the engineers destroyed all the remaining Jap resistance in a matter of twenty or thirty minutes.

Shortly thereafter the American forces were over the few remaining crests and down into the base at Formosa. When quizzed by his superiors about the disgraceful conduct of his formation at the height of the crisis the commander of the 10th Med tank regiment, Major John Pike said he didn’t think the engineers needed any further assistance and that obviously the objective was the base and they needed to capture it as soon as possible. His commanding officer saw things differently and had him court-martialled, cashiered and demoted.

All in all, a very successful months operations and I think you will agree that the writing is now firmly on the wall for the Japanese empire. The sun sets in the background as I write this dispatch to you from my office in Pearl Harbor. The sight of your glorious leader, Mr Churchill enjoying the heft of one our damn useful Tommy guns has my command team and I in stitches. I appreciate your sending it over. Developments in your sectors sound positive and heartening. I can understand your umbrage at the Chinese constantly running interference and holding up your men, perhaps there is something going on in the Chinese domestic scene we are not aware of. As you say it is their country. Thanks for your fine words of encouragement regards our effort in Formosa, as you can see we have successfully eliminated the last of the major Jap strongholds in the Pacific. Now for the mainland!


Attached photo is of elements of Alpha Co, 23rd Bn Combat Engineers using a flamethrower to clear the japs from the hills around Formosa

[unscratchedfoot]

Wow this is sure a big story. Is this a record on this forum for length and longevity? That is sure a lot of work you 2 blokes did there. Inspired by your perseverence, maybe I'll resurrect my old Royal Service for another episode. But I got a second chapter of Round Four on the boil right now.

[Paddy]

January 1944 TOP SECRET
From East Coast Australia Allied Command Centre Sydney
To West Coast America Allied Command Centre San Francisco


Admiral Nimitz, yet again your actions have again brought great news to the people of the Commonwealth. We be quite glad to have you as allies in this conflict.

Squadron Leader David, 17th Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Fighter Wing, reports P38’s and P61’s out of Hong Kong have laid some serious damage on Nanking.

General B Scott – 7th ANZAC Army and his two columns have started to arrive outside of Nanking.

Major General Charles Barrett, 45th Tankers Regiment, 7th Anzac Army, and his Battalions: ‘The Flying Wagga Light Tanks’ and the ‘Brumby Jack’s Light Tanks’ continue within the columns, yet they are champing at the bit to re-engage the Jap

General Hill and his 9 artillery rgts have stayed within the columns.

The discussions of repatriating areas to China continue with Wing Chu, the Ambassador of China. Another 5 major cities have been handed over to the Chinese.

May your adventure continue to grow and develop, and my people agree with you completely, the writing is on the wall for Japan now.

Admiral Wally Peterson and his TF 35 & 39 have started to arrive and the Tanker Regiments are already on their way to the front.

[Paddy]

February 1944 TOP SECRET
From East Coast Australia Allied Command Centre Sydney
To West Coast America Allied Command Centre San Francisco


Admiral Nimitz,

This day the destroyers HMAS Darwin, HMAS Cape York and HMAS Moresby passed through the Boela straights on their way through to Manila. Each destroyer carries a battalion of the Royal Australian 13th Regiment.

The Carrier HMAS Australia and Task Force 65 (formerly TF 35, 39 & 91) has gatheredoutside of Hong Kong, and will sail soon for the north. Admiral Wally Peterson signal ed that all is well and they are ready to strike hard into the Jappamans heartlands.

The repatriating areas to China seems to have been a sucess. Earlier this week I recieved a series of packages from Wing Chu, the Ambassador of China, each containing a very precise note of thanks for each of the cities that we handed over.

Squadron Leader David, 17th Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Fighter Wing, reports P38’s and P61’s out of Hong Kong have laid some serious damage on Nanking.

It is here in the battle of Nanking that my troops are running into serious issues with our Chinese allies. The Chinese certainly do have a large army, and they continue to block General B Scott's 7th ANZAC Army. General Hill and his 9 artillery rgts have stayed within the columns.

It certainly will do our lads good that Major General Charles Barrett, 45th Tankers Regiment, 7th Anzac Army, and his Battalions: ‘The Flying Wagga Light Tanks’ and the ‘Brumby Jack’s Light Tanks’ along with the RAR 19th took Nanking.

It certainly would be good to have the Chinese clear the roads and rails so we can get our troops through. Yes I am a tad frustrated by the Chinese actions in this matter.

May all be well with you

[wargamer]

Did you see this?

www.microgeo.pl

www.microgeo.pl/CoralSea.html
www.microgeo.pl/BloodyNights.html

(in polish)
http://www.gry-online.pl/S013.asp?ID=19839
http://gry.o2.pl/zapowiedzi/?co=pokaz&id=368

[Paddy]

thank you

I had not seen these before.