A Rising Sun on Tropical Seas: The Japanese Invasion of the East Indies 1942
In January 1942 the Japanese have already started their invasion of Malaya and the Philippines, secured Siam, and already have invaded and secured in the face of minimal resistance Sarawak and Brunei (and their critically important oilfields). The Japanese have conquered Shanghai, Hong Kong, Wake Island, and have fought a series of battles with the US Navy in the Hawaiian Islands that has left the American fleet crippled for weeks to come.
Now the critical campaign begins to seize the main prize, the Dutch oil fields of the East Indies.
Facing the Japanese onslaught is a multinational command of American, British, Dutch, Australian, and Portuguese colonial and national forces with limited air power, troops and generals of uneven quality, and a disparate naval force pulled together based more on what was available than needed.
For the British and Dutch, they are already overstretched, and the British are fighting for their survival in the Mediterranean and at home, while the Dutch are in exile from their homeland, already facing its second year of occupation. The Americans and British have already lost most of their air power and while strong efforts are being made to send reinforcements for now the Allies must fight with what they have.
Allied Forces Southeast Asia – ABDA Command (American, British, Dutch, Australian Command)
Supreme Commander ABDA – Field Marshal Archibald Wavell
created January 1, 1942 at the behest of Winston Churchill and approval of Franklin Roosevelt
Major commands
Malaya – Lieutenant General Percival (British Army)
Dutch East Indies – Admiral Conrad Helfrich (Dutch Navy)
Philippines – General Eisenhower (US Army)
Burma – Major General Ian Playfair (British Army)
North Australia – Major General David Blake (Australian Army)
US Army Australia – Lieutenant General George Brett (US Army Air Force)
ABDAFLOAT – Admiral Tom Phillips (Royal Navy)
In January 1942 the Japanese have already started their invasion of Malaya and the Philippines, secured Siam, and already have invaded and secured in the face of minimal resistance Sarawak and Brunei (and their critically important oilfields). The Japanese have conquered Shanghai, Hong Kong, Wake Island, and have fought a series of battles with the US Navy in the Hawaiian Islands that has left the American fleet crippled for weeks to come.
Now the critical campaign begins to seize the main prize, the Dutch oil fields of the East Indies.
Facing the Japanese onslaught is a multinational command of American, British, Dutch, Australian, and Portuguese colonial and national forces with limited air power, troops and generals of uneven quality, and a disparate naval force pulled together based more on what was available than needed.
For the British and Dutch, they are already overstretched, and the British are fighting for their survival in the Mediterranean and at home, while the Dutch are in exile from their homeland, already facing its second year of occupation. The Americans and British have already lost most of their air power and while strong efforts are being made to send reinforcements for now the Allies must fight with what they have.
Allied Forces Southeast Asia – ABDA Command (American, British, Dutch, Australian Command)
Supreme Commander ABDA – Field Marshal Archibald Wavell
created January 1, 1942 at the behest of Winston Churchill and approval of Franklin Roosevelt
Major commands
Malaya – Lieutenant General Percival (British Army)
Dutch East Indies – Admiral Conrad Helfrich (Dutch Navy)
Philippines – General Eisenhower (US Army)
Burma – Major General Ian Playfair (British Army)
North Australia – Major General David Blake (Australian Army)
US Army Australia – Lieutenant General George Brett (US Army Air Force)
ABDAFLOAT – Admiral Tom Phillips (Royal Navy)
