I'm expecting great things from HE who's name cannot be spoken. Or was it HE who must be obeyed? Well at least his supply line to Yemeni cigarettes, which probably passes through Kuma cannot be impeded ITTL.
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I'm expecting great things from HE who's name cannot be spoken. Or was it HE who must be obeyed? Well at least his supply line to Yemeni cigarettes, which probably passes through Kuma cannot be impeded ITTL.Hopefully, apart from Lewis Heath in command of XIII Corps, no, although I may have got a few facts slightly wrong. But I have to have this for context, so we all understand why Britain simply didn't send more to Malaya. Here we have our first eleven batting away, and the outcome of the great offensive, is on a knife's edge, what might our second, no make that third eleven bat like?
Then (IMO) it ought to be summarized, rather than narrated in fine detail. The latter mode calls the reader to read closely; when it is included in an AH narrative, there is a tacit implication that Something Is Different. If the subject is obscure, the background may be necessary. But (ISTM) mere recapitulation in detail of well-known events is a waste of the author's energy and the readers' time.Hi Anarch King of Dipsodes, Hopefully, apart from Lewis Heath in command of XIII Corps, no, although I may have got a few facts slightly wrong.
It's a while back, (17 JUN 23) but I think that OOB is coming...I've enjoyed reading the timeline but I agree at this point a list of what events actually differ from OTL would be extremely helpful (and a Malaya OOB that highlights what's different as well)
Hi Logan2879, I won't do that at the moment, but what I've promised is I'll provide a full OOB of the Allied Forces in Malaya/Singapore before the war kicks off.Hello @Fatboy Coxy
I have a question? Can you list all the Air Force squadron base at Singapore at this moment and are going to arrive before December 6, 1941? Since I see that Hurricane planes are in Singapore by October. Plus how many planes are in each squadron...
Probably to placate his American audience. We like the autobiographical story. Plus, Bluto's speech reflecting on American Historical Knowledge:Then (IMO) it ought to be summarized, rather than narrated in fine detail. The latter mode calls the reader to read closely; when it is included in an AH narrative, there is a tacit implication that Something Is Different. If the subject is obscure, the background may be necessasy. But (ISTM) mere recapitulation of well-known events is a waste of the author's energy and the readers' time.
Hi Lofton-Henderson, yes that does sound like a good idea, I'll have to look at where I post this in my chronological order, but obviously before kick off.I've enjoyed reading the timeline but I agree at this point a list of what events actually differ from OTL would be extremely helpful (and a Malaya OOB that highlights what's different as well)
The Philippine Diary Project provides a glimpse into how the telegram from FDR was received. On February 1, 1942, Ramon A. Alcaraz, captain of a Q-Boat, wrote,Some minor differences in USN, but IMO that will change. the longer Malaya holds
How about PRES Quezon pulls the plug and the PI surrenders in February 1942? It would likely be someone not on the Rock (Vargas?) acting with the Japanese in Quezon's absence. Bataan resistance would collapse as the PA and Reserve Divisions lay down their arms. GEN MacArthur would be seen as The Betrayer in the PI.Later, I proceeded to the Lateral of the Quezon Family to deliver Maj. Rueda’s pancit molo. Mrs. Quezon was delighted saying it is the favorite soup of her husband. Mrs. Quezon brought me before the Pres. who was with Col. Charles Willoughby G-2. After thanking me for the pancit molo, Quezon resumed his talk with G-2. He seemed upset that no reinforcement was coming. I heard him say that America is giving more priority to England and Europe, reason we have no reinforcement. “Puñeta”, he exclaimed, “how typically American to writhe in anguish over a distant cousin (England) while a daughter (Philippines) is being raped in the backroom”.
That would have been so far outside the Phillipine sense of honor, as to be almost ASB. It would be forever putting the Phillipines under the boot of Japan, like Korea. The United States would take that as an ultimate Betrayal, there would be no aid to Philippine guerillas ,no attempts to liberate the Phillipines,no funding for post war rebuilds..The Philippine Diary Project provides a glimpse into how the telegram from FDR was received. On February 1, 1942, Ramon A. Alcaraz, captain of a Q-Boat, wrote,
How about PRES Quezon pulls the plug and the PI surrenders in February 1942? It would likely be someone not on the Rock (Vargas?) acting with the Japanese in Quezon's absence. Bataan resistance would collapse as the PA and Reserve Divisions lay down their arms. GEN MacArthur would be seen as The Betrayer in the PI.
I'll mention Dr. Kissinger here. Or as he preferred, "K". “To be an enemy of America can be dangerous, but to be a friend is fatal.” If the US plays "Realpolitik" favored by "K" I sense that it might have worked out better for Korea. There would be no partition at the 38th parallel during the American occupation of the entire peninsula.That would have been so far outside the Phillipine sense of honor, as to be almost ASB. It would be forever putting the Phillipines under the boot of Japan, like Korea. The United States would take that as an ultimate Betrayal, there would be no aid to Philippine guerillas ,no attempts to liberate the Phillipines, no funding for post war rebuilds.
There is an interesting legend. When FDR was Asst. Secy., Dept. of the Navy, he attempted to relieve the Captain of a Naval ship that he was aboard. FDR desired to navigate the Ship up a bay or river. The Captain refused. FDR then tried to pull rank, by citing his position in the hierarchy. The Captain replied that he commanded a commissioned US Naval vessel. He quoted the USC and NAVREG implying that FDR would be tossed into the Brig as a mutineer. If memory serves me, that was one Thomas Hart.All that is really needed are a couple of U.S reporters being with the navy. Have one leave Manila on board Houston or Marbelhead, and share their travels a d struggles , posting the struggles of the Asiatic fleet , how prepared Adm Hart was how he was kept back from recon by Mac Arthur.. Another reporter, with Adm Hart at his HQ in Manila, watch Cavite burn, and blaming Mac Arthur for losing his Air Force on the 8th, and taking the USMC's search radar from Cavite, , leading to no warning ,and 500 dead and 1,500+ wounded. If that information makes it's way back to the states, Hart's star rises and Mac Arthur's takes a hit.
I'll mention Dr. Kissinger here. Or as he preferred, "K". “To be an enemy of America can be dangerous, but to be a friend is fatal.” If the US plays "Realpolitik" favored by "K" I sense that it might have worked out better for Korea. There would be no partition at the 38th parallel during the American occupation of the entire peninsula.
The Philippine sense of honor produced Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos. Marcos father, a member of the Congress, was drawn and quartered, for being a Japanese collaborator and propagandist. The Philippines will still be liberated, as it's along the way to Tokyo.
I see the DUKE Forces liberating most of the Southern Pacific German territories, seized by the Australians, British or Japanese. The BPF is at the Scapa Flow of the Tropics, in the Admiralties. Depending upon the mission, the Commander can be the BPF or 7th Fleet, similar to TF 38 or 58?
There is an interesting legend. When FDR was Asst. Secy., Dept. of the Navy, he attempted to relieve the Captain of a Naval ship that he was aboard. FDR desired to navigate the Ship up a bay or river. The Captain refused. FDR then tried to pull rank, by citing his position in the hierarchy. The Captain replied that he commanded a commissioned US Naval vessel. He quoted the USC and NAVREG implying that FDR would be tossed into the Brig as a mutineer. If memory serves me, that was one Thomas Hart.
So I sense that even if a film existed with GEN MacArthur buggering <insert thought here>, his fellow aristocrat, "that man in the White House", would have given it no traction. FDR saw Mac as useful to draw attention away from his own and his subordinates in the Cabinet malfeasance over the past eight years.
So far U.S. Army and land and Air forces including 4th Marines are following the OTL history . Some minor differences in USN, but IMO that will change. the longer Malaya holds
Hart was certainly no fool and high above most his peers in theatre in terms of competence. However, his defaitism - though somewhat understandable - made his position untenable. Hart should have realised that giving up the Malay Barrier without a fight was never going to go past the Australians, let alone the Dutch.OTL, After Hart's relief under Dutch Command, ABDA forces were decimated in wasteful and off the cuff battles, with zero positive results. For the loss of 10 American and over 15 allied ships.
I'd say that PERTH and HOUSTON gave the Japanese more of a scare at Sunda Strait, given the fact that it prompted them to launch a torpedo salvo at their own troopships!Ironically the biggest scare given the Japanese was by the USN Destroyers USS Edsall and Pillsbury, who separately , while attempting to rescue survivors from the USS Langley and Pecos , ran into and fought a magnificant though fatal battles, on a IMO level equal to those of Taffy 3, against the screen of Kido Butai, which forced changes in procedures for the escorts of Kido Butai, moving them further out from the carriers.
Kido Butai's performance against Edsall was nothing short of embarrassing.Ironically the biggest scare given the Japanese was by the USN Destroyers USS Edsall and Pillsbury, who separately , while attempting to rescue survivors from the USS Langley and Pecos , ran into and fought a magnificant though fatal battles, on a IMO level equal to those of Taffy 3, against the screen of Kido Butai, which forced changes in procedures for the escorts of Kido Butai, moving them further out from the carriers.
It took Val dive bombers to stop the Edsall, so the escort screen could hit her.Kido Butai's performance against Edsall was nothing short of embarrassing.
Worth remembering that the Allies aren't the only people with inexperienced units and untested weapons and doctrine.1941, Monday 01 December;
It had been a year since their inception, a year of creating new training practices, modifying weaponry, adjusting tried and trusted tactics to fit into the likely scenarios of their deployment. A year in which a small band of men had grown into an organisation capable of replenishing itself with continuing groups of recruits. Platoons had grown into companies, and then bigger, with associated support units. And now finally, the 1st Raiding Regiment, a battalion sized formation, was today, formally passed out.
Amateur, very amateur. Did the Japanese not copy the idea of assault gliders from the Germans?The regiment, commanded by Major Takeo Takeda, was to be one of two, the second under Major Takeo Komura due to be operational in January, all under the headquarters of Col Seiichi Kume’s 1st Raiding Brigade, along with a transport air regiment of Ki 56 and Ki 57 aircraft. Each aircraft carried between 10 and 13 men, equipped with revolvers and grenades, their rifles and machineguns, along with other equipment would be dropped at the same time in containers. The 3.7mm AT gun, however, couldn’t be dropped, and a transport plane would be deliberately crash landed on suitable ground.
The IJA is holding a passing-out parade at an IJN airfield? This is either a blatant piece of in-your-face inter-service trolling, or a sign of the impending apocalypse.Speeches complete, it was time for the march past, their boots stamping out a staccato beat across the tarmac of Nyutabaru airfield, home of the IJN Air Service parachutists.
The IJA is holding a passing-out parade at an IJN airfield? This is either a blatant piece of in-your-face inter-service trolling, or a sign of the impending apocalypse.
Perhaps a last gasp of an attempt of the Gods to appease the war between three IJN and IJA.Worth remembering that the Allies aren't the only people with inexperienced units and untested weapons and doctrine.
Amateur, very amateur. Did the Japanese not copy the idea of assault gliders from the Germans?
The IJA is holding a passing-out parade at an IJN airfield? This is either a blatant piece of in-your-face inter-service trolling, or a sign of the impending apocalypse.
While Houston and Perth, gave the IJN a shock, and hurt some IJN warships, the greatest danger to the IJA and it's landing forces present, were the destroyers of the IJN.Hart was certainly no fool and high above most his peers in theatre in terms of competence. However, his defaitism - though somewhat understandable - made his position untenable. Hart should have realised that giving up the Malay Barrier without a fight was never going to go past the Australians, let alone the Dutch.
I'd say that PERTH and HOUSTON gave the Japanese more of a scare at Sunda Strait, given the fact that it prompted them to launch a torpedo salvo at their own troopships!