What would be the consequences for the wider Pacific War if Singapore does not fall to the Japanese? And how late a POD can you come up with to avoid the fall?
Also, even if Singapore did fall, had the British fought to the death, it would have been far more honorable, like a WWII version of the Alamo.
What would be the consequences for the wider Pacific War if Singapore does not fall to the Japanese? And how late a POD can you come up with to avoid the fall?
Actually the latest POD is 15 Feb 1942. Yamashita was almost out of fuel, food and ammunition at this point- he spent all his effort on engaging British forces in a furious offensive to scare Gen Percival into surrendering- IOTL, this worked. If Percival manages to hold out for a couple of days longer, the Japanese will be forced to fall back.
It must be pointed out, however, that water supplies to the city had been cut and Percival had to factor in the prospect of civilian suffering. As CalBear points out, Singapore is not a tenable position unless you also hold Southern Malaysia since the city could not feed nor water itself.
If the Japanese are forced to fall back or at least give up offensive operations in Mid February what are the possibilities of an allied counter attack to retake part of the mainland and free the water supplies? Impossible?
All Japanese bycicles rust one day before the invasion. Other than that, no options here.
All Japanese bycicles rust one day before the invasion. Other than that, no options here.
Namely the Singapore garrison is stronger and is more competently led, perhaps it's Slim instead of Percival?
Also, even if Singapore did fall, had the British fought to the death, it would have been far more honorable, like a WWII version of the Alamo.
Or they could get flats along the way.
Wait, now. What about Phillips getting lucky? Or smart, & sailing immediately he gets word of the Japanese task force? That would probably screw the landings pretty nicely & save Singapore... (IMO, that's the latest PoD you could get.)There is actually very little that Singapore can do to NEVER fall. You can delay the inevitable, but not prevent it without eliminating the entire European War
Let's not forget, the bases were sited with damn all regard for the Army's ability to defend them... Wasn't there a 1936 report revealling the weaknesses? What are the chances for it being adopted & actual defensive measures taken?Singapore was, despite the large numbers of troops in the region, vastly under-equipped. The RAF had almost no strength there, the RAAF had very little strength there
No chance of having Allied subs run supplies in? Or too trickly to matter?At Singapore, eventually the food runs out, the ammo runs out and the hope runs out.
Also, even if Singapore did fall, had the British fought to the death, it would have been far more honorable, like a WWII version of the Alamo.
There is actually very little that Singapore can do to NEVER fall. You can delay the inevitable, but not prevent it without eliminating the entire European War, or at the very least keep it on the Continent and not allow it to spread into the Med (having the French Fleet decide to come over to the RN en masse will help too).
Singapore was, despite the large numbers of troops in the region, vastly under-equipped. The RAF had almost no strength there, the RAAF had very little strength there, and most of the troops were something less than top drawer since the cream had been skimmed and sent to the Western Desert. Artillery was scare and was quite old and there is no practical way to prevent the IJN from cutting the garrison off and simply treating it like the U.S. did Truk (except Truk could, barely, sustain the iland's population through farming. gathering, and some fishing). At Singapore, eventually the food runs out, the ammo runs out and the hope runs out.
Better command decisions could have kept the garrison going for another four-six months, after that its Kobayashi Maru time.