A Rising Sun on Tropical Seas (a story from a Battle at Dawn)

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map courtesy of the US Military Academy
http://www.westpoint.edu/history/SitePages/WWII Asian Pacific Theater.aspx

a link to a really awesome detailed map way to big to fit in this forum

http://www.britishempire.co.uk/images2/seasia1901map.jpg

note that the Japanese invasion of Davao has not yet occurred

 

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Allied Naval Forces available Pacific and Indian Ocean regions January 15, 1942

US Forces Pacific Ocean Area (Nimitz)
Pacific Fleet
Patrol and Escort Force
Mission: clearing Hawaiian Island area of enemy submarines, escorting damaged ships to West Coast, convoy escort, and surface patrols around Hawaii, Midway Island, Johnson Island, and the Line Islands (where a series of airfields are under construction for air route to Australia)

DD (1st line) Craven, Gridley, McCall, Dunlap, Benham, Fanning, Ellet, Drayton, Flusser, Mahan, Cummings, Case, Tucker, MacDonough, Phelps, Patterson, Ralph Talbot, Conyngham, Reid, Tucker, Case, Blue, Helm, Worden, Dewey, Smith, Preston, Shaw,
DD (2nd line)(includes minesweeper and minelayer conversions) Chew, Allen, Henley, Ward, Breese, Wasmuth, Perry, Zane, Trever, Sicard, Chandler, Hovey, Boggs, Lamberton, Ramsey, Montgomery, Pruitt, Tracy

Fleet Train
Oilers are supporting convoys and Task Force 16, the repair ships are assisting repair and salvage at Pearl Harbor, while the other ships are supporting the base
Fleet oilers: Kanawah, Cuyama, Brazos, Neches, Pecos, Trinity, Sepulga, Tippecanoe, Platte, Sabine, Kaskasia, Destroyer tender Whitney, Dixie, Repair ship Argonne, Medusa, Sumner Hospital ship Solace, Stores ship Castor, Rigel, Antares, Seaplane Tender Wright, Tangiers, Curtis, Avocet, Swan, Casco, Macfarland, Munition Ships Pyro, Lassen,

Task Force 16 (Spruance) (ready for operations as of January 15, 1942)
CV Yorktown (36 Wildcat, 36 Dauntless), CV Enterprise (36 Wildcat, 36 Dauntless), CA Northhampton, Portland, Salt Lake City, Minneapolis, CL Helena, Phoenix, DD Jarvis, Mugford, Bagley, Cummings, Farragut, Monaghan, Blach, Maury,

Southwest Pacific (en route San Francisco from Darwin via Pearl Harbor where they switch escorts)
CA Chicago, Indianapolis, Pensacola, CL Marblehead (attached CA Australia, Canberra, DD Stuart, Voyager from Australian Navy, CL Leander, Achilles from New Zealand Navy) seaplane tender Langley, oiler Pecos, Trinity, gunboasts Asheville, Tulsa, Niagara, ocean tug Napa, transports Republic, Chaumont, William Holbrook, Meigs, Halstead, Coast Farmer, Bloemfontain, AT Scott, President Coolidge (embarked is all Navy and Marine Corps personnel from former American Volunteer Group, the 4th Marine Regiment, both bound for California, plus 4,000 American and Filipino dependents, 3,000 USN and Filipino naval base military and civilian personnel who will get off at Pearl Harbor)

ABDA Command (based out of Darwin) (Glassford)
CL Boise, DD John Ford, Paul Jones, Edwards, Alden, Whipple, Pope, Pillsbury, Peary, Edsall, destroyer tender Black Hawk, Seaplane tenders Childs, Preston plus 4 minesweepers, submarine tender Holland, Otus, 22 fleet submarines, 6 S Boats (plus Canopus at Bataan, along seaplane tender Huron, rescue ship Pigeon 3 gunboats, 1 armed yacht, Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 3 w 6 PT boats) plus PATWING 10 (26 PBY remaining)

The US Navy sent a battle squadron, a cruiser squadron, and a destroyer squadron to the Pacific along with its only escort carrier in late December 1941.

Task Force 1 (Seattle) BB Idaho, Mississippi, New Mexico, CVE Long Island, plus DESDIV 16 w DD McDougal, Winslow, Moffet, Sampson (forms with Maryland, West Virginia and the Colorado once refitted) (Guard Force for the US West Coast specifically guarding the northern approach from the Arctic Circle route)... Task Force 1 is commanded by Admiral Anderson, Commander Battle Force Pacific Fleet

Task Force 19 (Escort Force West Coast to Hawaii and West Coast to South Pacific)
CL Richmond, Concord, Trenton, Raleigh plus DESDIV 22 w DD Roe, Higgins, Meredith, Grayson, Monssen joins with CV Saratoga, (36 Wildcat, 36 Dauntless) cargo ship Regulas, Sirius, Vega, Procyon, transport Burrows, Crescent City, provision ships Aldebaran, Bridge, Arctic, Boreas, aircraft transport Kitty Hawk, Hammondsport,

Australian Forces ABDA Command (Darwin)
CL Perth, Hobart, DD Vampire, Vendetta,

Royal Navy ABDA Command (includes Force Z) at Batavia
BC Renown, Repulse, CA Dorsetshire, Devonshire, CL Trinidad, Caledon, Mauritius, Glasgow DD Isis, Stronghold, Thanet, Scout, Tenedos, Electra, Encounter, Express, Tenados, Thanet

Eastern Fleet Escort Force (escorting convoys and patrolling for German raiders)
BB Revenge, Royal Sovereign CA Exeter, CL Ceres, Capetown, Colombo, Danae, Dauntless, Durban, Emerald, Enterprise, Hawkins, CVL Hermes,DD Foxhound,

en route
BB Warspite, Ramilies CV Formidable, Indomitable, CA Frobisher CL Gambia DD Foxhound, Grenville, Griffin, Napier, Nestor, Nizam, Norman (last 4 to RAN),

Dutch Fleet (at Batavia)
CL Java, De Ruyter, Tromp, DD Witte de With, Kortenaer, Piet Hien, Banckert, Evertson, Van Nes, plus 15 submarines
Dutch Naval Air Service – 52 flying boats and patrol bombers,

US Army Forces Australia (General Brett)
72nd Field Artillery regiment, 124th Field Artillery regiments (both towed 105 mm guns, 72 guns total), 159th Infantry Regiment (California National Guard), 28th Engineer Regiment (aviation) (reinforced with 2 extra battalions of general engineering troops)
the engineers are at Townsville along with the 72nd Field Artillery, the 159th Infantry and 124th Field Artillery are at Darwin awaiting sufficient shipping to move to Java.

5th Air Force (Chennault)
combat ineffective units: 23rd Fighter Group, 24th Fighter Group, 19th Bomb Group, 27th Bomb Group (Light). All four units have lost all of their aircraft from combat and are at Brisbane with orders to return to the US.

Philippines Air Detachment: 4th Composite Group w 4 LB30, 12 C47, 6 C39, 12 C45 transport aircraft, Bataan Air Detachment w 17th Fighter Squadron w 4 P40E, 4 P40C, 4 A24, 2 T6, 10 Steerman
Java - 35th Pursuit Group (72 P39D), 49th Pursuit Group (72 P40E), 7th Bombardment Group (36 B17E),
en route: 22nd Bombardment Group (B26), 38th Bombardment Group (A20), 3rd Bombardment Group (A20) 43rd Bombardment Group (B25) (groups en route not available until February at the earliest)

Other key points
Darwin – (Australian forces) 23rd AIF Infantry Brigade, 2/2, 2/3 and 2/4 Commando Companies, Darwin mobile force battalion, 19th Infantry Battalion, plus 1 artillery battery (25 pounders), 2 coast defense batteries, 1 light AAA battery, 1 engineer company, 12 Wirraway fighters, 6 Hudson patrol bombers,

Rabaul – (Australian forces) 1st Independent Commando Company, Lark Force (reinforced infantry battalion), 10 Wirraway light bombers, 4 Hudson patrol bombers

Dutch East Indies- Dutch garrison of 3 divisions spread among the various islands, several American and British anti-aircraft, infantry and engineer battalions under Dutch command have arrived or are en route

 

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Japanese Forces January 15, 1942
Invasion of East Indies and South East Asia

Malaya Campaign (Yamashita)
25th Army w 5th, 18th, and Imperial Guard Infantry Divisions, 3rd Tank Group, plus heavy engineering and artillery support as well as the Army 3rd Air Corps,

As of January 15th the Japanese have the British under heavy pressure and moving rapidly

Luzon Campaign (Homma)
14th Army w 4th, 16th and 48th Infantry Divisions, 65th Infantry brigade, 1st Tank Group, plus heavy engineering and artillery support and the Army 5th Air Division

Burma Campaign (Iida)
15th Army w 33rd, 55th Infantry Divisions, Army 4th Air Division

Available Ground Forces and Army Aviation Dutch East Indies, Southern Philippines and Luzon Campaign
16th Army (Imamura) 2nd Infantry Division, 1st Airborne Brigade, 2nd Air Division, 3rd Air Division,

18th, 38th and 48th Divisions are allotted to this Army, however losses have been heavy in Luzon while the 18th is now allocated to Burma once it is finished in Malaya. To make up for these reassignments (as the 38th Division is now on its way to Luzon) 20th Infantry Division is pulled from Manchuria, while the 1st Division is pulled from its garrison at Tokyo. The 56th Infantry Division, which already has elements assigned to the 16th Army, is reassigned in full to take part as well.

Naval ground forces
1st, 2nd, 3rd Yokosuka SNLF (parachute) battalions, 1st, 2nd, 3rd Kure SNLF (assault) battalions,

Naval Air Support 8th Fleet
21st Air Flotilla (Palau) w 36 Nell, 36 Betty, 24 Mavis, 24 Zero
23rd Air Flotilla (Palau) w 72 Betty, 90 Zero

Naval Air Support 11th Air Fleet
22nd Air Flotilla (Brunei) w 60 Nell, 24 Mavis, 90 Zero,
24th Air Flotilla (Siam) w 48 Nell, 60 Nell, 30 Zero,

In reserve: (in case the Americans come too far west) at Hiroshima
1st Fleet (Takasu) BB Yamato, Nagato, Mutsu, CL Katori, Kashii, Kashima, DD 2 Akigumo class, 15 Kagero class, CVL Hosho (9 Zero, 3 Kate)

Southwest Area Fleet (Kondo)
Western Force - 3rd Fleet (Ozawa)
Covering Force (Takahashi) BB Ise, Hyuga, Fuso, Yamashiro, CL Abukuma, Kinu, DD 10 Asashio class
Scouting Force (Kurita) CA Mogami, Mikuma, Suzuya, Kumano, Tone, CL Natori, DD 10 Shiratsuyu class
concerned about the presence of the British battle cruisers and reports that the British may be committing their R Class battleships as well, the 1st and 2nd BatDiv are committed. The more powerful battleships are held back in case of an American sortie into the Western Pacific

Eastern Force - 4th Fleet (Inoue)
Covering Force (Mikawa) BB Kirishima, Haruna, CA Takao, Maya, Chokai, Atago, CL Sendai, Jintsu, Naka, DD 4 Akatsuki class, 6 Hatsuharu class

1st Air Fleet (Yamaguchi)
CV Akagi (18 Zero, 18 Val, 27 Kate), CV Hiryu (18 Zero, 18 Val, 18 Kate), CVL Ryujo (12 Zero, 12 Kate) CVL Shoho (9 Zero, 12 Val, 9 Kate), CVL Zuiho (6 Zero, 9 Claude, 15 Val) CA Chikuma, Myoko, Nachi, Haguro, Ashigara, CL Nagara, Isuzu, DD 20 Fubuki class

each troop convoy has light cruisers, destroyers, subchasers and minesweepers as escorts with strength varying according to size of convoy

 

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The Japanese 2nd Phase Offensive late January – early February 1942

Securing the eastern approaches
The first element of this major Japanese thrust is securing Davao and its useful harbor, as well as its airfield, as well as securing Dutch New Guinea and seizing the Admiralty Islands. This will further isolate the Americans in the Philippines, secure bases to defend the southern approaches to the Caroline and Palau Islands, and providing advances bases for a later thrust to Australian New Guinea, the Bismark Barrier and Solomon Islands. For these operations the Army provides 3 brigade groups (drawn from the 56th Infantry Division) to supplement several battalion and company sized Navy land forces, which are in turn reinforced by base force and engineer troops from the Navy. The Japanese First Air Fleet will cover the operations against New Guinea and the Admiralty Islands while land based air assets, along with a powerful cruiser force, will cover the invasion of Davao.

To defend against these thrusts the Americans have the 42nd PA Infantry, a detachment of 8 P40 fighters operating out of Del Monte Field and several float planes at Davao itself, while the Dutch have only a few small detachments of troops throughout all of their portion of New Guinea and no aviation assets. The Filipino troops have orders to only delay the Japanese invaders if they are in greater strength and then fall back to the mountains, while the aviation is ordered to retreat to Cebu once the Japanese arrive.

By January 25th, the Japanese have secured their objectives against no significant resistance except at Davao, where most of the 56th Infantry Division lands but suffers significant casualties before the Filipino troops (and their American advisors) pull back into the jungle. Japanese engineers quickly repair Davao airfield, and the first Japanese Navy fighters are operating from it by February 1. Meanwhile the Japanese establish seaplane bases at Hollandia and Seeadler Harbor at Manus (the largest island of the Admiralty Islands) which are used by Japanese float planes and flying boats by February 4 while airfields are being constructed that are expected to be ready by April.

The Battle of the Celebes Sea
A convoy led by the cruiser Boise, with 4 destroyers, 2 destroyer/seaplane tenders, 1 armed yacht, and the 2 PA Coast Guard transport ships Don Isidro and Dona Nati carrying rations, ammunition and parts leaves Darwin for Cebu on January 19. Once there the vital supplies will be distributed to forces in the southern Philippines or airlifted to Bataan. Steaming at 18 knots, the little fleet reaches Cebu on January 21 and due to heavy rains, is unobserved by Japanese patrol aircraft out of Pelelieu and Clark Field. The American fleet offloads its cargo and takes aboard 3,000 troops and 1,000 wounded and weighs anchor on January 24 for a run for Darwin as fast as they can steam.

Meanwhile on January 20, the powerful Japanese 4th Fleet, commanded by Admiral Inoue enters the Celebes Sea to provide distant cover for the invasion of Davao. This force refuels from a tanker group at Davoa harbor on January 25 before going back to sea on January 26.

Japanese search planes spot the Americans as they thread their way through the morning of January 25. The first attack on the Americans is by 36 Betty level bombers at 1100 Hours. The level bombing attack is well aimed but the American ships are very well handled. Only 4 bombs score, wrecking the seaplane tender Preston which is left without power and on fire. She is abandoned and survivors taken off but 57 American sailors and 130 Filipino soldiers go down with her. A second attack at 1323 Hours by 42 more Betty bombers results in more damage, with several bombs blasting the Don Isedro into burning wreckage while two others blast the stern off the Childs. Both ships are abandoned and between them over 1,000 sailors and soldiers are lost.

Night falls before the Japanese can launch another strike, but Glassford is informed of the Japanese fleet at Davao and that it is refueling. Determined to get the most men possible to safety, he orders the everyone he can cram aboard the destroyers from the Dona Nati and for it to take shelter in the Jolo Islands so that the crew and those passengers who cannot be transferred can reach land at the very least. This increases the speed of his fleet to 26 knots, and the 6 remaining ships hurry south toward the Makassar Strait.

Japanese patrol planes spot the Americans the following morning, but with their huge lead, Admiral Inoue decides pursuit is fruitless. With that note the Battle of the Celebes Sea comes to an end. Glassford is able to get 2,100 troops and 600 wounded to safety, men who will form the basis of 2 future regiments of Philippine Scouts. But the toll has been very high, with 4 ships lost or scuttled, over 1,300 soldiers and sailors dead and another 50 sailors and 900 soldiers marooned in the Jolo Islands (and captured within a few more days after the Japanese land there). The Americans refuel at Balikpapan (the last Allied ships that will do so for some time to come) before reaching Darwin on February 3.

Eastern landings
Meanwhile the next element of the Japanese eastern thrust into the Dutch East Indies is already underway. The Japanese carrier fleet enters the Celebes Sea on February 2 (after refueling at Davao), where it covers the invasion of Celebes and eastern Borneo, capturing the vital port of Balikpapan on February 5 with the assistance of Japanese Airborne Special Naval Landing Troops who stage out of Davao. Also landed is a brigade of the Japanese 5th Infantry Division (two brigades of which secure Celebes Island), the 2nd Army and special engineer detachments who are quickly put to work putting out fires set by the retreating Dutch and American petroleum workers. Dutch air attacks are smashed by carrier fighters who slaughter 37 Dutch aircraft in the air and send another 12 limping back to base as wrecks. The Dutch Brewster Buffaloes, Martin B10s, and Fokker Flying Boats are helpless against the Japanese A6M Zero.

By February 15 the Japanese have secured the most vital portions of the eastern Dutch East Indies and are moving their land based aircraft from the Palau Islands and Davao forward to Borneo and Celebes. Allied bases in Java, Timor and the rest of the central Dutch East Indies are now within range of air attack.

 

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Defeat in Malaya
Field Marshal Wavell arrives at Singapore on January 29 as he as an appointment to meet with Eisenhower who along with his staff and a number of officers and men have just been evacuated from Luzon. Wavell is also increasingly concerned about the handling of the defense of Malaya so far. He has already had to accept the retreat from Johore merely days ago (on January 27) and reports have not been encouraging since. He takes the opportunity to meet with Percival and the other generals, then tours positions held by an Indian, British and Australian battalion (each). He finds the men to be discouraged, the officers fatalistic, and that there have been no steps taken until the arrival of the troops to prepare the island for defense. Just as important is that of the 4 divisions assigned to Malaya, the 9th and 11th Indian Divisions are badly mauled and many of the Indian troops are demoralized, the 8th Australian has suffered heavy losses and badly tattered, and only the newly arrived 18th Infantry Division is at reasonably close to full strength. There are several other units, including 3 brigades of local forces and an Indian brigade.

Meanwhile the strategic situation is getting far worse. He also has information that the Japanese have landed at Davao in the Southern Philippine Islands of Mindanao, and Japanese naval forces are approaching eastern Borneo as well as Celebes. Meanwhile Japanese forces have invaded Burma and are already making good progress, while he cannot expect much in the way of immediate reinforcement in terms of ground forces and he has the job of defending India as well as Burma and Malaya and the Dutch colonial empire. At Singapore and in Burma there is little in the way of air cover, and while anti-aircraft gunners and the few fighter pilots he has are doing their best, it is clear to him that ultimately without naval support that can repel an almost certain invasion of Java and Sumatra, the island of Singapore is doomed without massive air reinforcement, something he knows he has no chance of supplying. There is also an excellent chance he will lose Burma as well.

His meeting with Eisenhower goes well, and he meets with a number of American junior officers and sergeants and he notes the substantial difference in their morale versus those of the officers and sergeants he met the day before. Wavell and Eisenhower spend nearly 2 days meeting together, discussing the campaign that Ike has fought and comparing notes with British officers about Japanese tactics and operational methods. It is clear to Eisenhower as he observes a meeting between Percival and Wavell to plan the defense of the island that Percival has made a grave error in his defense plan and Eisenhower is forced to admit his opinion when Wavell discusses the matter with him in private as Eisenhower and his men prepare to leave by LB30 on February 2. Although Eisenhower tries to diplomatically avoid giving his opinion of a British General, Wavell determines that his very diplomacy says enough in itself.


Singapore under siege
An hour after Eisenhower leaves Wavell takes personal command, something he decides he has no choice but to do, of all forces in Singapore. He sends a request to London for Jumbo Wilson to be sent to to assist him, and he also asks Admiral Philips to fly to Singapore to consult with him as well. Completely dissatisfied with the defense plan Percival has drawn up, he essentially demotes Percival to his chief of staff for Singapore, and orders a new plan and new dispositions to take place immediately.

Wavell orders a halt in demolition efforts as he needs his brigade of engineers to begin work at once helping the 3 brigades of the 18th Infantry, the 44th Indian Brigade, and the 1st and 2nd Malay Force brigades to dig in along the north shore. The three brigades of the 18th Infantry Division take over the positions of the Australian 22nd and 27th Brigades, as well as the 28th Indian Brigade, while the 2 Malayan brigades take over positions previously held by them while the 44th Indian Brigade takes over the defense of the naval base, along with a scratch battalion formed by Navy and Royal Marine personnel. This leaves him with the 22nd Australian Brigade as a reserve, along with fortress troops. III Corps is assigned the artillery of the 9th and 11th Indian Divisions, as well as the 8th Australian Division and ordered to concentrate in the 18th Division area as Wavell considers it to be the most likely Japanese focus.

The Evacuation of Singapore
Wavell also orders the transports that brought in the 18th Division, which arrived on January 29th and have only now completed unloading take aboard the infantry battalions of the 9th and 11th Indian Infantry Divisions, and 3 battalions of the 8th Australian Division, as well as many wounded as can be crammed aboard. Those battalions are particularly demoralized or badly understrength and in any event are no longer particularly combat effective. In actual strength this is only 12,000 men, plus another 5,000 wounded (as only those likely to need more than 30 days of care are evacuated). The convoy is to leave no later than the night of February 4 and to steam to Calcutta to unload. This reduces his force to 73,000 men, but at least 20,000 of them (the 18th Division, 44th Indian Brigade) are relatively fresh (albeit green and trained for desert warfare).

Although this has not been communicated to London, Wavell already realizes that further defense is hopeless. He is determined to save as many troops as possible as he needs them elsewhere, and after refitting, rebuilding and some retraining he thinks that the 9th and 11th Indian Divisions can be committed to fighting the Japanese within a couple of months. The Australians are needed at home and in any event he has little confidence in the 8th Australian Division commander. Wavell hopes to convince Admiral Phillips and London to evacuate the rest of the force if possible, and if not, he intends to at least get as many service troops and civilians out that he can to lesson the logistics demands of the besieged island, which is what he is telling Churchill at this point.

 

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Note that the positions have been changed as follows


The three brigades of the 18th Infantry Division take over the positions of the Australian 22nd and 27th Brigades, as well as the 28th Indian Brigade, while the 2 Malayan brigades take over positions previously held by them while the 44th Indian Brigade takes over the defense of the naval base, along with a scratch battalion formed by Navy and Royal Marine personnel. This leaves him with the 22nd Australian Brigade as a reserve, along with fortress troops. III Corps is assigned the artillery of the 9th and 11th Indian Divisions, as well as the 8th Australian Division and ordered to concentrate in the 18th Division area as Wavell considers it to be the most likely Japanese focus.

The infantry battalions of the 9th and 11th Indian Division, as well as the 29th Australian Brigade, have been evacuated. The 22nd Australian Brigade is at the Golf Club in reserve.

map is from wikipedia article on Battle of Singapore

 

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The final reinforcement convoy
Convoy BM12, with the light cruiser Emerald, destroyer Vampire, 3 sloops, 2 minesweepers, 5 transports arrives on February 5. A Japanese air attack sinks the transport Empress of Asia (16,000 tons) just off Singapore, with light personnel casualties. BM12 brings 3,800 replacements for the 9th and 11th Indian Divisions which Wavell orders to remain aboard the ships, stores and equipment for the 18th British, along with 2,000 other personnel (which are also ordered to remain aboard the ships). Only one transport is allowed to dock and the rest of the convoy is ordered to immediately turn around and steam at its best speed through the Straits of Malacca back to Calcutta. This convoy manages to avoid the naval and air engagement that follows as the Japanese are concentrating on other forces and thus reaches Calcutta intact. Joining the convoy are over a dozen other merchant ships carrying nearly 5,000 civilians. Another convoy, DM2 (CA Exeter, CL Danae, DD Jupiter), carrying ground staff for a RAF Fighter Wing and 2 antiaircraft regiments is rerouted to Java (arriving February 6).

Singapore Airlift
Eisenhower arrives in Batavia on February 3 and meets with General Brett. That general is relieved of his assignment and ordered home as Brett disagrees with Eisenhower's decision to divert American and Filipino transport aircraft for a few days to help out the British at Singapore, which is the final straw for Eisenhower who has a whole list of complaints from Brett about the British, Dutch, Australians, and for that matter Chennault. Ike decides that the easiest way to end those complaints is to send the complainer home. Chennault is ordered to take temporary command of American and Filipino forces in the Dutch East Indies while Beebe is ordered to take temporary command of American troops in Australia. Both are given specific tasks as well, with Beebe ordered to prepare base areas in Australia, while Chennault is ordered to help the Dutch as much as possible while helping the British evacuate Singapore until it is no longer possible. This ends for several days the airlift into Cebu from Java however. Only the light C45 transport planes still at Cebu continue their airlift in and out of Bataan during this time period.

This gives Chennault 40 DC3 and DC2 transport planes (C39 and C47) as well as the 12 Catalina's supplied by the Navy. The British are able to assemble several more DC3s, as well as a number of flying boats and pleased by Eisenhower's action (the relief of General Brett), the Dutch assemble several more DC3s and DC2s and well as nearly 20 flying boats from the Dutch Navy and civilian passenger aircraft. The total aircraft available allows beginning on February 7 an airlift from Batavia to Singapore (560 air miles) involving 112 aircraft that flies nearly 1,500 civilians out a night until the last British airfield is placed under Japanese artillery fire. At that point only military personnel are evacuated, with nearly 600 people a night being flown out until the very end of the Battle of Singapore.

The final defense plan
With nearly 40 kilometers of likely and additional kilometers of potential coastline vulnerable to a possible Japanese amphibious assault, but only 2 divisions and a couple of brigades to defend such an enormous frontage, a defensive crust is out of the question. A different approach is needed.

With pressing concerns in Burma as well as the Dutch East Indies, Wavell is forced to leave Singapore himself on February 3. He takes Generals Percival, Simmons, and Key with him, with Percival as his new chief of staff, Simmons to be appointed commander of the Northwest Frontier Province in India, and Key to take over command of the survivors of the 9th and 11th Indian Divisions that have already been evacuated and to oversee their rebuilding and retraining. Also evacuated is Brigadier Taylor, commander of the Australian 22nd Brigade (who left with his men), as well as Brigadier Maxwell, former commander of the Australian 27th Brigade as General Bennett does not have confidence in him.

Wavell leaves Lieutenant General Henry Pownall, his former chief of staff and who was chief of staff to Lord Gort in France in 1940 as the new commander of Malaya Command. His experience in pulling off an evacuation under fire is just what is needed here. Pownall is ordered to make sure that he too evacuates before the end, as Wavell as plans for him elsewhere. General Heath, commander of the III Corps keeps his job, and is also handed the unpleasant task of commandign the rear guard (and thus likely having the job of surrendering when the time comes). General Beckworth Smith commands the shore defense, with the 44th Indian Brigade and 53rd British Brigade, along with two machine gun battalions (1 each British and Australian). Smith also has a pair of scratch battalions build from men drawn from excess personnel drawn from coast artillery, anti-aircraft artillery and field artillery units. This force is deployed in a series of platoon observation posts connected to the rear by wire and radio and are in essence a tripwire.

Behind this is the counterattack reserve consisting of the Australian 27th Brigade, British 54th and 55th Brigades, 1st and 2nd Malaya Brigades, and most of the field artillery. General Heath commands this force directly, with Bennett commanding the Australians along with the 3rd Indian Cavalry (armored cars) and has been given all of the remaining Bren Gun carriers and motor transport. The fortress command is handed over to newly promoted Brigadier Grimwood, who also commands the Singapore Straits Volunteer Force of 4 battalions, most of which are tied down keeping order in Singapore itself where the civilian population is growing increasingly nervous under daily Japanese aerial assault in a city with no formal air raid shelters.

Supporting the combat troops are the support troops of the 11th Indian and 18th British Divisions, as the 8th Australian Division and the III Corps troops are ordered to prepare for evacuation and to turn over their equipment over to other troops. Also present is the fortress command support troops who are taking over the role of corps level support.

 

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Evacuated February 4
12th Indian Brigade (Paris)(5th Argyl and Sutherland Highlanders, 5th / 2nd Punjab, 4th / 19th Hyderabad) this brigade performed better than most of its fellow brigades in the fighting in the north and was the first ordered out due to Wavell ordering the best performing experienced units out first. It is also wrecked, with infantry battalions down to a weak company in size. Only 430 survivors are evacuated as the rest are dead, wounded, missing or captured.

22nd Australian Brigade (Taylor)(2/18th, 2/19th, 2/20th) This brigade suffered heavy casualties and its troops are more exhausted than the other Australian brigade.

28th Gurkha Brigade (Carpendale)(2/1st Gurkha Rifles, 2/2nd Gurkha Rifles, 2/9th Gurkha Rifles, 5th / 14th Pujab, 3rd/ 16th Punjab). This brigade fought extremely well but has taken severe casualties and was a high priority for evacuation due to exhaustion and casualties. Infantry battalions badly chewed up but the 2/1st Gurkhas numbers exactly 28 men.

15th Indian Brigade (Garrett)(1st Leicestershire Regiment, 2nd /9th Jat Regiment, 1/14th Punjab Regiment)

6th Indian Brigade (remnants)(2nd East Surrey Regiment, 1st /8th Punjab Regiment, 2nd / 16th Punjab) this brigade was wrecked in the fighting up north and consists of survivors of the units indicated. The survivors had been folded into the 15th Brigade and all are evacuated together

8th Indian Brigade (2/10th Baluchi, 2nd/12th Frontier Force, 1st / 13th Frontier Rifles, 3rd / 17th Dogra) although chewed up this brigade is primarily exhausted

22nd Indian Brigade (5th / 11th Sikh, 2nd / 18th Royal Garhwal Rifles) the survivors of this brigade number only a few hundred demoralized survivors

3 Indian Infantry battalions (1st Mysore Infantry, 1st Bahawalpure Infantry, 1st Hyderabad) were destroyed up north and the survivors have already been assigned to other units. Also evacuated are the survivors of the 45th Indian Brigade (a few hundred men from support and artillery units)

As most of the battalions above are well understrength, there was plenty of room for the surviving support personnel to be evacuated as well. Only 4 artillery battalions of the brigades above remain at Singapore (the other 4 artillery battalions or batteries were lost in combat and survivors also evacuated).

 

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Forces: The Battle of South China Sea February 7 – 15, 1942

Allied Forces
Admiral Phillips (ashore at Batavia)
Force Z (R Adm Murray) (departs Port Blair after refueling from tankers February 6)
CV Indomitable w 9 Sea Hurricanes, 12 Fulmar II, 24 Albacore, BC Renown, Repulse, USN CL Boise DD Thanet, Tenedos, Express, Electra, Encounter

Force N (Admiral Doorman)(distant cover for Force D and Force E)
CL Java, Tromp, De Ruyter, RN CL Colombo, Dragon DD Witte de With, Kortenaer, Evertsen, Piet Hein

Force D (R Adm Stuart Bonham Carter) departs Batavia February 9 after cargo and troops unloaded
BB Royal Sovereign, Ramilies, CL Danae, Durban USN DD John Ford, Paul Jones, Edwards, Alden, merchant ships Warwick Castle (20,119 tons), Empress of Australia (21,860 tons)City of Pretoria (8,049 tons), Triolus (7,422 tons), Malancha (8,124 tons), City of Canterbury (8,331 tons), Dunera (11,197 tons)

Force E (Commander Paul Tabbot) (USN) departs Surabaya February 6
DD Whipple, Pope, Pillsbury, Peary, Edsall, PY Isabel Dutch merchant ships (all between 2,000 – 3,000 tons) Both, Reael, Van der Lijn, Van Swoll, Sloet van de Beele, Taishan

Force J (Captain Waller, RAN) departs Ceylon February 2
CL Perth, Hobart, DD Vampire, Vendetta, merchants Aquitania (45,000 tons)Talma (10,000 tons), Madura (8,975 tons), Medina (3,962 tons), Rajula (8,478 tons)

Allied land based air support
US 35th Fighter Group (66 P39D), RAF 48th Fighter Group (37 Hurricane II), (based in Sumatra) RAF bomber force with 40 Bleinheim, 8 Hudson
7th Bombardment Group (33 B17E, 4 RB17C, 2 B17D) (Java)

Japanese Forces
Western Force - 3rd Fleet (Ozawa)
Covering Force (Takahashi) BB Ise, Hyuga, Fuso, Yamashiro, CL Abukuma, Kinu, DD Ashashio, Oshio, Michishio, Arashio, Asagumo, Yamagumo, Natsugumo, Minegumo, Arare, Kasumi,

Scouting Force (Kurita) CA Mogami, Mikuma, Suzuya, Kumano, Tone, CL Natori, DD Shiratsuyu, Murasame, Yudachi, Harusame, Samidare, Umikaze, Yamakaze, Kawakaze, Suzukaze,

22nd Naval Air Flotilla- 80 G3M Nell bombers, 32 G4M Betty bombers, 21 A6M Zero fighters,

Sumatra Invasion Force
CL Yubari, DD Wakatake, Kuretake, Sanae, Sawarabi, Asagao, Yugao, Fuyo, Karukaya
21 transports, 1st Infantry Brigade (reinforced regiment from the 1st Infantry Division), 2 brigades of engineers, extra artillery, antiaircraft, and a company of tanks assigned

Airborne Force
2 battalions (600) paratroopers plus another 400 to be flown in (based in northern Malaya)

Japanese Army Air Force in Malaya
350 aircraft including 20 Sonya light bombers, 50 Lily medium bombers, 100 Sally medium bombers, 120 Nate fighters, 30 Oscar fighters, the remainder recce, transport and liaison aircraft

 

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historical map of the historical campaign indicated (map courtesy of wikipedia)

 

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The Battle of the South China Sea
On February 6, Wavell orders Allied forces to commence Operation Buccaneer, a final effort to evacuate as many troops as possible from Singapore. Admiral Phillips has command of all of the Allied naval forces, while to ensure better coordination, General Chennault is given command of Allied air units assigned to the Singapore airlift as well as Allied land based air combat forces supporting Operation Buccaneer.

February 6
Force Z completes refueling at Port Blair in the Andaman Islands and is joined by the USS Boise, fresh from its participation in the Battle of the Celebes Sea. The American cruiser was requested because of its good anti-aircraft firepower due to the relative weakness of the British ships in the force and the lack of a anti-aircraft cruiser. Force Z, under the command of Rear Admiral Murray, departs just as night falls on a course that will take it toward Penang which has been in Japanese hands since December 18.

At Surubaya the destroyers and fast armed yacht Isabel, fresh from the Celebes Sea and a quick refueling at Darwin join a convoy of 6 small Dutch merchant ships that have just unloaded cargo and are now directed to head for Singapore. The convoy leaves late afternoon of February 6 at 12 knots,

Meanwhile the US 66th Fighter Group takes up shop at Batavia to provide air cover for the airfields and port which are needed by Chennault to carry out the airlift. The B17s of the 7th Bomb Group leave Darwin and set up operations in Java, while the RAF 48th Fighter Group (Hurricane II), recently flown off by the HMS Indomitable, begins covering the RAF bomber field (Hudsons and Blenheims) at Palembang in Sumatra. At Singapore itself a handful of fighters remain but are due to be evacuated soon.

The JAAF meanwhile has moved its light bombers and some of its fighters to Kuala Lumpar, Kluang and Mersing, while keeping its medium bombers at Kota Bhuro and Penang along with a few fighters to defend those fields. The Japanese Naval Air Force 22nd Air Flotilla is still operating from Indochina (Saigon area) and is preparing to move to newly captured fields in recently captured British Borneo. A handful of float planes have been moved to Penag but the planned move of some flying boats to begin patrolling the Bay of Bengal is still days away.

Meanwhile at Cam Ranh Bay in Indochina the Japanese 3rd Fleet has nearly finished assembling and refueling and has orders to sail on February 9.

February 7

Force Z is spotted in the Bay of Bengal by a Japanese float plane that is then shot down. Only a garbled message reaches its base at Penang and the Japanese assume that the British ships are covering yet another reinforcement convoy heading for Singapore. Word is sent to the 22nd Air Flotilla which makes plans for an attack for the following day when the British are closer to Singapore. The scout fails to get word of the British carrier out before it is destroyed by a pair of Fulmar fighters.

The Japanese fail to spot Force E as the Mavis flying boat that passes overhead in the afternoon misses it as it is in a rain squall.

Chennault orders a strike by B17s with the mission of cratering Kota Baru airbase, while 24 Blenheim bombers and 18 Hurricane fighters has the mission of attacking and cratering the airfield at Kuala Lumpur. Meanwhile the Japanese launch a heavy attack with Lily and Helen bombers at P1 airfield at Palembang, escorted by Oscar fighters, while the rest of their air strength continues to hammer Singapore aside from 12 Nate fighters that intercept the RAF attack. A total of 21 of the American B17s reach their target (another 7 are forced to abort for mechanical reasons) and inflict heavy damage to the runways, knocking the field out of action for two days. None of the American bombers are intercepted or lost in combat although 1 goes down due to mechanical failure over northern Java. The RAF meets heavy resistance and between the fighting over its own base and over Japanese territory a total of 22 RAF aircraft are lost in the air or on the ground, while JAAF losses total 17 for the entire day including those lost over Singapore to British anti-aircraft fire.

In the South China Sea the American submarine USS Trout manages to sink 2 Japanese transports before being driven off. Japanese personnel losses are relatively light but the cargo losses are annoying.

At 0930 hours, the HMS Repulse and Renown approach to within 20,000 yards of Georgetown, Penang escorted by two destroyers. The carrier Indomitable, along with the Boise and 3 other destroyers are 50 miles off shore with the carrier preparing a strike. Walrus spotter planes, one from each ship, fly over the airfield and port and begin dropping flares. Over the next three hours the two ships expend 75% of their high explosive ammunition leveling the port and wrecking the airfield. As the bombardment ends, a strike of 18 Albacores split into two attack forces bombs targets that look promising that are relatively undamaged as well as destroying the radio station. After recovering their aircraft, by dawn the British are nearly 200 miles away having left the area at the speed of their slowest ship and escape the planned Japanese attack which lacks the needed scouting report as all of the Japanese float planes at Penang are burned out wrecks.

In all the British destroy 23 aircraft, knock both the port and the airfield completely out of action until weeks of repairs are made, and have somewhat offset the British embarrassment of having abandoned intact all of those facilities on December 17. Japanese personnel losses are also heavy as they were completely surprised by the bombardment. However civilian casualties are serious and having already suffered abandonment by the British in December, being shelled by them in February does little to improve the mood of the population regarding the British Empire.

February 8
A strike consisting of 36 Betty bombers fails to find Force Z as it was not were it was expected and bombs Singapore instead as a secondary target. The JAAF in Malaya is mostly grounded due to damage to its airfields, giving both Palembang and Singapore a respite for the day. The American B17s of the 7th Bomb Group strike the Japanese airfield at Klaung and are intercepted by several Oscar fighters, who manage to down 2 of the American bombers at the cost of 4 of their own. Damage to the base is serious but it remains in operation.

Beginning at dusk the first transport planes begin arriving in Singapore to take off civilians, mainly European civilians but some Indian and Chinese as well who are considered important. Aircraft stay on the ground only briefly, adding just a bit of fuel to increase their reserves, before taking off again. Several merchant ships leave the harbor without escort carrying more civilians and make their best speed for the Sunda Strait and Indian Ocean.

At 2300 hours, the Battle of Singapore begins with a massive Japanese artillery barrage and an amphibious assault by 4,000 assault troops from the Japanese 5th and 18th Divisions, overwhelming the few outposts held by the 44th Indian Brigade.

In Batavia, Phillips orders the Ramilies and Royal Sovereign to leave port immediately and make their best speed for Singapore and to not wait for escort or the convoy they were to escort. Rear Admiral Bonham Carter is told that if need be his two aging battleships are expendable if that is what is needed to buy time for the evacuation. Both ships are underway by 0200 hours February 9.

Meanwhile Force E, with 4 US destroyers, 1 US armed yacht, and 6 Dutch merchant ships, arrives in Singapore harbor just before midnight. It has the capacity to take off 5,000 evacuees.

 

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February 9
At Singapore, General Pownall orders the 27th Australian Brigade to move into contact with the Japanese invaders to buy time for the 18th British Division to move into assembly areas for a full scale counterattack. Communications problems are serious however as the heavy Japanese artillery bombardment has severed many communications lines and many times orders have to be delivered by messenger. Meanwhile the Australians and surviving Indian troops fight as best they can under heavy Japanese pressure to buy time, suffering severe losses and the 3 Punjab battalions have all been reduced to scattered survivors by night fall, while the Australian battalions are reduced to weak companies. Only heavy artillery fire by Indian, British and Australian artillery which exhausts most of the ready ammunition supply prevents a Japanese break through. Meanwhile another 8,000 Japanese troops have been brought ashore, along with artillery and some light tanks, and the Japanese launch another serious attack in the early evening that captures Tengah airfield. General Heath is forced to commit the 55th British Brigade to establish an emergency line after the Indians are overrun, and he also has to give up the Navy Base and Causeway without a fight after the Japanese Imperial Guards Division crosses that evening and probes toward them.

During the daylight hours, 15 Blenheim bombers escorted by 8 RAF Hurricanes makes another attack on Kuala Lampur airfield while the Americans send 25 B17s after aborts (out of 31 dispatched) against the former British airfield at Kuching in Borneo. The JAAF slaughters the RAF, shooting down all but 2 Hurricanes and 1 Blenheim, but the strike keeps the JAAF fighters busy that day and reduces the attacks on Singapore by JAAF light bombers. The American strike is met by JANF Zero fighters, and 5 B17s are lost, but the newly acquired base is heavily cratered, effectively knocking it out of action and the strikes forces the JANF to postpone for 48 hours moving up their bombers. A planned JANF strike against Force E is canceled due to lack of fighter escort, and instead the JANF bombers send 65 bombers in a night raid on Singapore harbor that does some damage and slows loading but does not prevent it.

A Japanese Mavis flying boat spots the Royal Sovereign and Ramilies but is shot down by a flight of American P39s before it can get off a message. Meanwhile a British Hudson spots the approaching cruisers and destroyers of the Japanese Scouting Force (Kurita) which at their current course and speed will put them off Singapore within 48 hours. Admiral Phillips persuades Admiral Helfrich to agree to committing Force N to attempt to ambush the Japanese cruiser / destroyer force as it makes its way through the many islands that dot the waters between Borneo, Malaya and Sumatra. The RN heavy cruisers Exeter and Cornwall are detached from convoy duty and sent to join the Anglo-Dutch force and link up with them just before dark.

As battle rages to the north, Force E embarks 5,000 troops from the 8th Australian Division, III Corps, and various RAF and Royal Navy personnel who no longer have a mission and departs Singapore harbor just before midnight for a run through the Straits of Malacca and from there to Madras. As they leave, the British battleships are only a few hours away, while the Force D evacuation convoy a few hours behind it.

Meanwhile Force J, which was carrying the 6th Australian Division, has completed unloading that division at Freemantle (where many of the troops are already being sent on home leave) and is steaming north for the Sunda Strait with orders to take off civilian and other evacuees from Batavia which it will reach on February 15.

February 10, 1941
The Battle of the South China Sea
Allied Forces

Allied bombers – 23 B17E (American), 3 RB17C (American), 8 Hudson (RAAF), 31 Martin B10 (Dutch), 24 Catalina (mix American/Dutch/RAAF/RAF)
Force N (Admiral Doorman)
RN CA Exeter, Cornwall CL Java, Tromp, De Ruyter, RN CL Colombo, Dragon DD Witte de With, Kortenaer, Evertsen, Piet Hein

Japanese Forces
Western Force - 3rd Fleet (Ozawa)
Covering Force (Takahashi) BB Ise, Hyuga, Fuso, Yamashiro, CL Abukuma, Kinu, DD Ashashio, Oshio, Michishio, Arashio, Asagumo, Yamagumo, Natsugumo, Minegumo, Arare, Kasumi,


Scouting Force (Kurita) CA Mogami, Mikuma, Suzuya, Kumano, Tone, CL Natori, DD Shiratsuyu, Murasame, Yudachi, Harusame, Samidare, Umikaze, Yamakaze, Kawakaze, Suzukaze,


22nd Naval Air Flotilla- 80 G3M Nell bombers, 32 G4M Betty bombers, 21 A6M Zero fighters,


Sumatra Invasion Force
CL Yubari, DD Wakatake, Kuretake, Sanae, Sawarabi, Asagao, Yugao, Fuyo, Karukaya
21 transports, 1st Infantry Brigade (reinforced regiment from the 1st Infantry Division), 2 brigades of engineers, extra artillery, antiaircraft, and a company of tanks assigned

Pre Dawn hours February 10
Force N is a few miles east of the Tamblen Islands, having made a high speed run from the area just north of the Sunda Strait after the 2 British 8 inch cruisers link up with it. Doorman has orders to delay the approaching Japanese fleet heading south and if possible intercept and wreck the Japanese transport force if practical. There are several Dutch submarines deployed in the area between the Anambas and Natunas island groups, and at first light the British and Dutch will have aircraft over the area looking for the enemy.

The Japanese Scouting Force is nearly a full day and 250 miles ahead of the Covering force which is 50 miles ahead of the Japanese transport force. Both of those forces are on course and speed to bring them off the coast of Sumatra near Palembang on February 15. The Scouting Force and its commander Kurita have orders to sweep aside any enemy forces and with reports of British battleships in the area to locate them as well. He has several float planes available from the Tone to act as his eyes, plus support from land based flying boats once dawn begins.

The Dutch submarine KXII spots several Japanese warships west of Saddle Island on the main shipping route that connects Singapore to Manila. That message is quickly relayed to Admiral Doorman and all other Allied naval forces. Allied air forces are also ordered to launch strikes at the enemy fleet as soon as possible. Allied air forces prepare their aircraft for a full effort with American B17s, Dutch B10s, Australian Hudsons, and British Blenheims. However, there are no fighters available or with the range to escort them.

Soon after dawn Japanese and Dutch patrol aircraft have spotted and updated the positions of both the Japanese and Anglo-Dutch fleets and shortly after that Japanese and Allied bombers are on their way to their targets.

The Japanese strike first at 0943 hours with 72 level bombers (mix Nell and Betty) and 18 torpedo carrying Betty bombers. Japanese bombing is superb, while the Allies have no fighter cover. The attacks are a series of strikes over an hour, and the light cruisers Colombo and Dragon both suffer a pair of 250 kg bomb hits each, which start serious fires and the bombing and evasive action widely disperses the formation, allowing the Japanese torpedo bombers a clear path to both damaged ships. The two British light cruisers suffer multiple torpedo hits resulting in their sinking with heavy casualties. Allied anti-aircraft gunners splash 5 of Betty torpedo bombers however as well as damaging several of the high level bombers.

Not long after, a 1005 hours, the first of 30 minutes of attacks by Dutch, Australian, British and American bombers begin. The Dutch B10s attempt to glide bomb, are are badly shot up by anti-aircraft fire, with 4 of them crashing into the sea but one crashes into the heavy cruiser Mikuma, starting a severe fire that requires several hours to put out and wipes out her after fire control, several anti-aircraft guns, her aircraft and hanger, and results in nearly 50 dead and many more wounded. The RAF / RAAF bombers come in a medium level, are badly shot up as they fly at 8,000 feet, and 3 Hudson are lost, and the rest are damaged to varying degrees with no hits scored. Soon after the American B17s begin their bombing attack at 12,000 feet, suffering little damage from anti-aircraft fire, but failing to score a single hit or even near miss. However while taking evasive action the heavy cruiser Tone finds an uncharted reef, ripping a nearly 25 foot gash in a hull that floods several compartments and rips open fuel tanks.

Admiral Kurita is forced to detach both of his damaged cruisers along with 3 destroyers (Minegumo, Arare, Kasumi) while Admiral Doorman detachs the destroyer Evertsen to pick up British survivors and return to base. Less than 400 British survivors are picked up from the two lost cruisers however as both capsized soon after being hit.

A planned second Japanese strike is canceled however as they are tasked to provide support to the Army which is under heavy shellfire from 2 British battleships at Singapore.

Follow up scouting missions by Dutch and Japanese aircraft continue to update positions into early afternoon, although occasional rain squalls occasionally hide ships and aircraft from each other. However at 1400 hours the two fleets are approaching each other and begin to accelerate to battle speed.

The Allied fleet is in a line ahead formation, with the the Dutch destroyer Witte de With 3,000 yards in the van ahead of the Dutch cruisers De Ruyter, Java, Tromp, each separated by 1,000 yards, with the Exeter and Cornwall with the same separation, and the remaining two Dutch destroyers trailing behind them. The Japanese have the light cruiser Natori in the lead, with destroyers Shiratsuyu, Murasame, Yudachi,trailing in line ahead behind her, each with 500 yards separation between. They are 2,000 yards ahead of the three heavy cruisers, with the Kumano in the lead, and the Suzaya and Mikuma behind with 1,000 separation. Behind them by 3,000 yards is the destroyer Arashio, Asagumo, Yamagumo, Natsugumo,each separated by 500 yards. The two fleets are roughly 20 miles east of Anabas Island closing on each other at a combined speed of around 60 knots. The Japanese have several float planes in the air and have excellent information on the Allied fleet. Doorman has only the last report from a Dutch PBY two hours ago, and knows the Japanese composition but little else. Both admirals order a hard turn to the east as to the west are islands, reefs and shoals and Admiral Kurita has already lost a ship to those already.

The Natori and its destroyers make the turn early, due to a signaling mistake, putting them 5,000 yards distant from the rest of the Japanese force and forcing them to accelerate to clear the line of fire for the heavy cruisers. Meanwhile the Anglo-Dutch make an immediate turn and accelerate as well. The two British and three Japanese heavy cruisers open fire at 1410 hours at a range of 20,000 yards and for the next hour the heavy cruisers fire away with poor accuracy and considerable haste and to no effect. Meanwhile the Natori and its three destroyers fire off their torpedoes scoring no hits due to haste and the high speed of both forces. Frustrated, Kurita orders his fleet to close the range to 10,000 yards and the two fleets begin to narrow the range almost immediately. By 1530 hours the two fleets are within range of the smaller guns of the destroyers and light cruisers as well as the secondary armament of the heavy cruisers and the firing increases in intensity but still both sides are shooting poorly.

At this point Kurita orders his heavy cruisers to focus on the three leading cruisers, worried that they are approaching torpedo range, and in quick succession beginning at 1545 hours land hits on all three Dutch cruisers, knocking out guns and fire control on all three ships, and starting serious fires. The most serious result is a hit that penetrates the engineering spaces of the De Ruyter, flooding boiler and engine spaces, and causing her to lose power. At the same time a spread of torpedoes from the Japanese cruisers is launched, and the Java and Tromp are lucky to avoid them as they were forced to make radical turns to avoid the De Ruyter, but the Dutch flagship is not so lucky as three torpedoes smash into her and she blows up almost immediately.

As the Japanese heavy cruisers score, so do the British, with 8 inch shells from the Exeter smashing the into the Suzuya, scoring 4 hits that shatter her forward turrets, her aft fire control and a near miss that causes flooding in her bow. She drops out of line soon after. The Dutch cruisers fail to score however, while the Cornwall scores 3 hits on the destroyer Umikaze, blasting away her torpedo mounts and starting a serious fire while two small caliber hits knock out her steering. That ship too is forced to drop out of the fight.

As of 1548 hours Captain Gordon of the Exeter finds himself in tactical command due to seniority and survival. With 3 light cruisers gone, two more damaged, and only two cruisers and three destroyers fit to fight facing a force of three cruisers and 5 destroyers, Gordon orders the fleet to change course to head for a rain squall a short distance away. He intends to lose the Japanese in the rain and poor visibility and then break for the south and home as ammunition is running low.

However in the race for the rain, the Japanese finally are able to get the trailing destroyer division into torpedo range, and they launch every torpedo they have and this time they score, with one torpedo blowing off the stern of the Exeter, while another causes the destroyer Piet Hien to blow up. The Japanese do not get away with loss however as an 8 inch shell blasts apart the bridge of the Kumano, killing Kurita and most of his staff, while several shells from the Witte de With cause flooding on the Natori, forcing her to drop out as she falls to half speed.

Knowing the the Exeter cannot escape, Gordon orders the rest of the fleet to flee. With their commander dead, the Japanese focus on her, and within 30 minutes leave the Exeter a sinking blazing wreck that goes down shortly after 1740 hours along with nearly half her crew. The heroic ship does not go down easily however, as she manages to hits on 2 more Japanese destroyers that leave them burning and with serious casualties and forces them to withdraw.

With night fall approaching, the Japanese request instructions and Ozawa orders them to retire back to the invasion fleet to beef up the screen with the undamaged ships, while those with damage are ordered to Cam Ranh Bay.

At a heavy cost Doorman has managed to neutralize the Japanese Scouting Force and prevent it from interfering with the evacuation of Singapore. But Force N is effectively as wrecked as a fighting force.

 

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Battle of Singapore February 10
As of this morning there are 55,000 Allied troops remaining at Singapore. Of these, three brigades have already been committed to fighting the Japanese assault. The 44th Indian has been effectively destroyed, with two battalions overrun and its third battalion (6th/ 1st Pujab) has been badly mauled. The Australian 27th Brigade (Bennett) has also been roughly handled, with its battalions down to company sized formations, while the 55th Brigade (18th British Division) was committed earlier than planned just to establish a basic line of defense.

This leaves available as a counterattack force the British 53rd and 54th Brigades (6 battalions all at about 80% strength), the 1st and 2nd Malaya Brigades of which only the 1st Malaya Brigade is deemed capable of offensive action, and the machine gun battalion of the 18th British Division plus 2 reconnaissance battalions (from the 11th Indian and 18th British Divisions) supported by 3 field artillery battalions from the 18th British Division, 4 artillery battalions from III Corps, and 2 surviving field artillery battalions from 11th Indian Division. General Pownall decides that every one else must be evacuated today as the last convoy he can reasonably expect reaches port in the early predawn hours.

These troops are from the Straits Volunteer Force (2,500 men with unique local knowledge), Dalforce (a special operations force of mainly Chinese training under SOE jurisdiction, 1,000 men), 9 battalions of anti-aircraft and coast artillery troops whose weapons have run out or nearly so of ammunition or have no useful role (8,000 troops), and all surviving support personnel from 11th Indian Division, 8th Australian Division and III Corps (12,000 troops) as well as all of the walking wounded (1,000). There is no longer space to take stretcher cases. In addition another 3,000 civilians, all of the remaining Europeans as well as over 1,000 Indian and Chinese civil servants and their families can be taken aboard.. The survivors of the 27th Australian Brigade (1,500 men) are also ordered out, and they retreat through positions held by the 2nd Malay Brigade shortly after dawn.

To cover the evacuation, the 18th Division is assigned all of the troops for the counterattack, and in addition, the two battleships will open fire with a massive barrage of 15 inch shells into Japanese artillery positions that have been observed on the Malayan side of the Straits of Johore, while the artillery will fire off every available shell. Once ammunition is exhausted, the artillery battalions are to destroy their guns and retreat to the port for evacuation as well (another 8,000 men). They will be taken aboard the destroyers escorting the convoy. The evacuation convoy will leave port at 0300 hours February 11 in order to get some distance from Singapore by dawn and hopefully reduce the likely damage from air attack.

The rear guard, the soldiers conducting the counterattack are highly unlikely to escape. These troops, along with the engineers, various support troops, medical staff (except women who have already been evacuated) and various headquarters troops, nearly 16,000 men, will be left behind along with over 2,500 wounded who are stretcher cases. But there is no help for that.

The Japanese by dawn of February 10 have just under 20,000 troops on Singapore, consisting of the infantry battalions, engineers, light tanks and light artillery from all three of their divisions. They have lost nearly 2,000 men so far to combat, and in the early hours before dawn are reorganizing prior to launching an attack just after first light which will allow for air support. Artillery ammunition is running low, and so is small arms ammunition, but Yamashita believes that if the 18th and Guards Division can take the Pierce Reservoir, the British will have to surrender within a couple of days at best. Unfortunately for his plans the Navy neglected to inform him that two British battleships are at Singapore and that there appears to be either an evacuation or a substantial reinforcement underway based on the number of ships that were spotted on February 9.

Battle of the Johore Straits
Thus he is shocked when the battleships Royal Sovereign and Revenge, along with 4 minesweepers enter the channel on a run toward the British Naval Base, while 3 British river gunboats and 2 motor torpedo boats enter the Straits of Johore from the southern side, and both British naval forces light up the pre dawn with searchlights, star shells and tracers aimed at Japanese boats, the causeway and the Malayan side while 6 inch guns lay down a devastating fire on the Naval Base and 15 inch shells from the Revenge add to the carnage and destruction. The Royal Sovereign meanwhile opens fire with its guns on the palace of the Sultan of Johore, as well as other likely headquarters buildings that radio intercepts had picked up as areas of high levels of radio transmissions. General Yamashita is forced into cover and although he remains unwounded several of his staff are killed and his communications are completely shattered for several hours as a result.

In all the Japanese lose nearly 2,500 casualties from this surprise naval attack, along with nearly half of their boats and efforts to repair the causeway are completely disrupted. The Imperial Guards Division is also disrupted, and indeed suffers over 1,000 of those losses as well as the destruction of its forward headquarters and many officers as it was concentrated at the Naval Base, which is left a mass of flames that are completely out of control by the end of the British attack.

The Royal Navy does not escape without loss however. Using every gun that can reach, the Japanese fire back fiercely, sinking two motor torpedo boats, leaving the gunboat Grasshopper burning and adrift, and inflicting casualties to exposed personnel on all of the remaining vessels. Fierce air attacks by the Japanese Army Air Force after 0800 hours sink the gunboat Dragonfly and all four minesweepers as well as starting fires on both battleships (that are quickly extinguished). By 1015 hours the surviving vessels have retreated back to Singapore harbor, having exhausted nearly all of their high explosive ammunition.

The 18th British Division offensive
While this is going on, the British Army opens fire with every gun that can reach, and the 54th and 55th Brigades (reinforced with reconnaissance and machine guns units) makes a full scale attack on the Japanese with the axis of advance by the 54th along Woodlands Road toward the Causeway, while the 55th advances along Mandai Road toward the naval base. Neither advance gets more than a mile before fierce Japanese resistance, casualties, and loss of cohesion and command control brings them to a halt, but Japanese losses are heavy, with several battalions badly chewed up and ammunition expenditures are serious. By early afternoon the British are pulling back to their start lines but due to Japanese disorganization, lack of ammunition and resupply problems the Japanese have been halted for a least two days. British losses are not light however, and all of the attacking battalions are down to half strength or less by the time they return to their starting positions. Among the dead however is General Bennett, killed by a Japanese bomb as he organizes the withdrawal of the 27th Australian Brigade, along with many of his staff. He is but one of the 8,000 casualties suffered by Malaya Command the last two days.

By nightfall the British still have 15 infantry battalions to hold the perimeter, along with various support units although the 18th British Division units are much reduced in strength.

The Japanese Navy strikes back
Yamashita is finally able to send a blisteringly pointed message to his superiors by late morning demanding naval support. With no surface ships immediately available to take on battleships, the Japanese Naval Air Force is called on to do the job. However having been committed to strikes in the morning against Doorman's fleet, they are not ready to launch a new strike until mid afternoon and it is not until an hour before dusk when they attack Singapore harbor with 81 level bombers escorted by 24 Zero fighters. They only flak they face is from the ships, but it is heavy and both battleships maneuver as best they can to avoid the level bombers. The Revenge is hit twice, with a bomb hitting the boat deck and penetrating into the spaces below, killing over 100 men, while the other bomb wipes out her anchor chains and causes a serious leak forward. The Royal Sovereign is luckier, taking only one bomb hit that knocks out the guns of her forward most 15 inch gun turret. However as the Japanese are focused on the heavy ships, they ignore the evacuation fleet which is hurriedly cramming aboard thousands of troops and civilians, as well as the many small boats.

Japanese fighters however strafe the airfields that remain under British control, destroying several British and Dutch transport aircraft, while in air combat down all 8 of the RAAF Buffalo fighters that had been sent forward to support the evacuation as well as a pair of civilian flying boats that were taking off when the attack began. A follow up air strike by the Army finishes off the airfields as usable landing strips soon after and with that the only aircraft that can get in and out are flying boats.

The final evacuation
By 0300 hours February 11, the last men that can be crammed aboard have been. The fleet leaves harbor at 12 knots up the Straits of Malacca for India and safety. Aboard are 30,000 Allied troops (most with just the clothes on their backs and their personal weapon) and 5,000 civilians. With them is General Pownall and his staff, as General Heath remains behind to command the remainder of the garrison that now prepares for a final stand before surrender.

 

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Battle of the Straits of Malacca February 11


By dawn the evacuation convoy, Force D, is 75 nautical miles from Singapore. The fleet consists of 2 battleships, 2 light cruisers, 4 destroyers, 1 minesweeper, 16 armed trawlers, and 180,000 tons of merchant shipping (14 ships). Fighter cover however is limited to a handful of Hurricanes operating out of Palembang and a similar number of Dutch Buffalo fighters.

The Japanese naval aviators of the 22nd and 24th Flotilla are however determined to get the British battleships after the attempt yesterday and the Japanese Navy is furious about the criticism from the Army.

At 0930 hours a Mavis flying boat spots the British convoy steaming up the Straits of Malacca, now 135 nautical miles from Singapore. Soon after the contact report reaches the forward fighter field at Bangkok, as well as the bomber bases at Brunei, Saigon and Bangkok, and every available bomber takes off.

The first attack is from a force of 21 Betty bombers carrying torpedoes, escorted by 18 Zeroes who quickly deal with the fighter escort, clearing the way for the bombers. Breaking into 4 groups of 6 bombers each, the torpedo bombers attack both of the battleships first. Allied gunners manage to down 2 of the bombers and damage several more, but the attack is a near perfect hammer and anvil attack, and while the 2 battleships manage to dodge most, they both are hit. The Revenge is hit by 3 torpedoes, one of which takes her steering and much of her stern, another blows off 30 feet of her bow, and a final one that hits her in her engine spaces, flooding them and bringing her to a halt. The Royal Sovereign manages to dodge all but one, which takes out one of her boiler rooms and slows her to 12 knots. Admiral Bonham Carter, aboard the cruiser Danae is forced to make the difficult decision of ordering the fleet to continue, leaving Revenge behind attended only by a pair of trawlers and a minesweeper to take off the wounded and begin ferrying men and taking them to nearby Sumatra.

At 1300 hours a force of 27 Nell level bombers arrives, and seeing the battleship below apparently helpless, attack the Revenge. She is adrift and her crew is still attempting to deal with flooding and get her engines working when over 108 bombs fall around her. At least 10 hit her, leaving her ablaze from bow to stern and inflicting devastating casualties. By 1310 hours her surviving senior officer orders her abandoned and at least 600 men make into the water before fires reach her magazines and she detonates. Nearly half manage to swim or drift to Sumatra or are rescued by her consorts but of her crew of nearly 1,000 men (plus 400 passengers) only 203 survive the sinking and Japanese captivity while another 100 are rescued.

The fleet is attacked again at 1340 hours by 27 Betty level bombers and 18 Betty torpedo bombers, this time without escort as the 18 fighters assigned missed the rendezvous due to cloud cover. This does not matter in this case however as there are no Allied fighters available to provide air cover either. Torpedo bombers go in first, concentrating once again on the battleship, and the damage she suffered earlier turns out to be fatal for the Royal Sovereign as she cannot get out of the way quickly enough. The number of torpedoes that hit her is unknown as so many hit her in quick succession that the detonation of her aft magazine and chain reaction that follows that results in the loss of 900 crew and 500 passengers happens to quickly for the handful of survivors to clarify. Even the Japanese pilots are shocked by her sudden demise. Only 2 of the Japanese torpedo bombers are downed, although several more are damaged. The level bombers hurriedly shift their target to the cruiser Durban, and in a outstanding attack, hit her with 8 bombs that leaves her burning and out of action, and soon after that abandoned.

The Allies get lucky soon after that as an afternoon rain squall shields them from another Japanese attack force of 21 level bombers that overflies them but misses them due to cloud cover. This force bombs Singapore harbor on their way home, inflicting some damage to central Singapore and killing several hundred civilians and numerous fires.

The long distance from the Japanese bases means that by late afternoon the convoy is safe from attack from all but Thailand as the other bases cannot rearm and refuel their bombers in time for them to reach the Allied fleet before dark. With only 12 Betty bombers and 9 Nell bombers available for action as the rest need mechanical work or have battle damage, this force of high level bombers makes a final attack at 1700 hours, concentrating on the cruiser Danae, but skilled ship handling by the British and fatigue on the part of the Japanese, who are flying their sixth mission in three days, results in nothing but misses.

By nightfall the convoy is safe, and by the next morning is out of range of Japanese bombers. At a cost of 2 battleships and a light cruiser, along with nearly 2,000 men, the Royal Navy, along with the US Navy, have managed to evacuate approximately 29,000 troops and 5,000 civilians.

The point is made bluntly that the battleship is no longer the queen of the seas in the face of air power.

 

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The Fall of Singapore
With the escape of the Evacuation Convoy, the British garrison at Singapore is reduced to 16,000 men, including 2,500 hospitalized wounded (stretcher cases not evacuated). The British only have 9 reduced strength or composite infantry battalions and a few artillery pieces and armored cars left, and have had to retreat to the final defense position aside from a scratch force holding the reservoir. The Japanese however were seriously disorganized by the counterattack on February 10, and suffered very heavy losses in their amphibious craft. Thus the British gain several days while the Japanese funnel their forces and supplies across the Straits of Malacca with a quarter of the planned and assembled boats.

Thus it is not until February 16 that the Japanese are finally ready to launch their final attack. The Imperial Guard leads the way, taking the Pierce and then MacRitchie Reservoir and inflicting 3,000 British casualties while suffering a similar number of Japanese casualties. By early morning of the 17th the British have lost control of the water supply for Singapore, and it is now clear to General Heath that the end has come. A party is sent under flag of truce to the lines held by the Japanese 18th Division, which is rapidly nearing Government House. The surviving British garrison of 12,000, including 5,500 wounded, surrenders shortly after noon on February 17 and with that General Yamashita has secured a major prize for Japan.

The British Malaya Force, which had nearly 135,000 men committed in all, loses nearly 9,000 dead or missing and another 49,000 have been captured (including nearly 9,000 wounded many of whom die quickly in Japanese captivity). But over 60,000 sailors, marines, airmen and soldiers have been evacuated successfully (although over 4,000 die at sea or not long after evacuation) including cadres for the Australian 8th and Indian 11th Divisions, as well as the Indian III Corps. But the loss of the 9th Indian and 18th British infantry divisions, not to mention essentially an entire tactical air force (as far as aircraft are concerned) is a major British disaster. Far more devastating is the severe blow to British prestige that has been inflicted.

The Fall of the Dutch East Indies
By February 19th, the ABDA surface naval forces have been driven away or destroyed. American, British and Australian air forces have been wrecked and can no longer offer meaningful resistance, and the Dutch have only the survivors of their air forces, their garrison troops, and a few assorted American and British anti-aircraft battalions in Java and a small Australian force in Timor remain.

The shattering Japanese raid on Darwin on February 19 finishes the hopes of any further reinforcement and makes it clear that now Australia itself is in danger. At the same time, the British are suffering defeat in Burma, having just lost an important battle at the Bilin River, and it is increasingly clear that the Japanese will likely take Rangoon within weeks at most. With the British forced to focus what resources that remain in Burma and India, while the Americans and Australians are forced to focus their energies on Australia, New Guinea and Hawaii, there is almost nothing left to help the Dutch.

By March 12, the Japanese have overwhelmed the Dutch and remaining Allied troops and secured the Dutch East Indies. The only remaining resistance is a small Australian commando force that will continue to wage a guerrilla war in the jungle mountains of Timor for months to come.
With the Fall of the Dutch East Indies and Malaya, as well as occupation of Siam and French Indochina, plus the Fall of Rangoon on March 7 and the beginning of a headlong retreat by surviving British and Indian forces in Burma, the the Japanese Centrifugal Offensive has been brought to a victorious conclusion.

Only the American and Filipino forces in the Philippines are still holding out as of March 13, 1942 and their future is grim. The rest of the great European colonial empires in Southeast Asia have been overwhelmed by an Asian enemy which is now establishing its own empire.

But the Japanese still have several weeks of campaign weather before the Southern Monsoon hits, and a British Empire in disarray in India and Burma.

 

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Combat losses, too many commitments, and powerful enemies has left the Royal Navy overstretched and at its relative weakest state during the 2nd World War

British Capital Ships April 1942

British Naval Forces

Home Fleet
BB King George V, Prince of Wales, Anson CV Illustrious

Force Z
BB Duke of York, CV Victorious CVL Argus, Furious

Med Fleet
BB Valiant, Queen Elizabeth (neither in action after a brilliant Italian special operations attack), BC Renown, Repulse

Invasion of Madagascar (April 1942)
BB Nelson, Rodney, CV Formidable, CVE Hermes, Eagle

Eastern Fleet
BB Warspite, CV Indomitable

The majority of destroyers and other escorts are tied down fighting the UBoat threat, but although at nadir in terms of strength, reinforcements are on the way. Luckily the threat of German raiders from Brest has been negated by the Channel Dash (that left 2 of the German ships damaged heavily by mines), the Italians are short of fuel and soon the Japanese will have bigger problems to deal with in the Pacific.

 

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Epilogue
The Japanese continue their offensive against the British until the beginning of May when the Monsoon begins and torrential rains bring ground and air operations to a halt. In Burma, the Japanese defeat both the Anglo-Indian and Nationalist Chinese armies, forcing them to retreat in disarray back to India and China respectively. A Japanese amphibious landing takes the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, securing the eastern approaches to Rangoon (and thus the Japanese naval supply lines) as well as providing a base for air patrols over the Bay of Bengal.

Calcutta and Unrest in India
After covering those landings, the 1st Air Fleet, as well as Army and Navy bombers launch several devastating attacks on the cities of Chittagong and Calcutta that do devastating damage to the port facilities at both cities and result in thousands of civilian casualties. The fires in Calcutta burn for days, and fuel even further the “Quit India Movement” which ties down the Indian Army for months to come during the monsoon. The Indian Government responds by arresting over 150,000 people, hundreds are shot in demonstrations but violence and protests for a brief time cause very serious concern that India will become untenable. However the troops rescued from Singapore, along with the clear effort by the British Government to make great sacrifices to save those troops, enables the British government to eventually raise an Indian Army of over 3 million troops by the end of World War 2.

However just as critically, the monsoon saves India from immediate Japanese invasion and by the dry season in Fall, the Indian Army has recovered successfully. The Japanese and Indian Armies would face each other in Burma for years to come.


Raid on Ceylon
The Japanese Navy in late March and early April sinks over 200,000 tons of Allied shipping in strikes at ports and at sea but finally withdraws by mid month. The Royal Navy, seriously stretched by operations in the Atlantic, Mediterranean, and the Invasion of Madagascar (Operation Ironclad) has only the carrier Indomitable, battleship Warspite, and a few cruisers and destroyers available to face the Japanese and under direct orders from London Admiral Phillips is ordered to avoid action. Thus when the Japanese raid Ceylon in the final stages of their operations they find the harbor empty and lose 24 aircraft for a total of 100 lost in all during the Indian Ocean Operation including those lost to operational causes as well as the fierce defense of Calcutta.

Admiral Yamaguchi is unhappy with the result. In effect two of his carrier airgroups have been gutted for no appreciable strategic gain and he voices his displeasure to Imperial Navy headquarters. More importantly, his carriers do not return to Japan until nearly the end of April and thus miss the chance to respond to an American response that would deeply shock the Japanese.

Finale
The War in Burma will continue for years to come. An airlift is established by the US 10th Air Force that will feed a vital trickle of supplies to the Nationalist Chinese, while Chennault returns to China and by 1943 the US 14th Air Force will begin to effectively support the Chinese against continue Japanese offensives. The War in Burma will continue to be a relative sideshow, but one that sucks in numerous Japanese Army troops and aircraft and a vast amount of British and American resources too. But the road to Tokyo does not run through Burma.