OTL the parent unit of these P-38s, the 343rd Fighter Group that officially stood up in Alaska in September 1942 was initially commanded by Major John Chennault (yes, the other guy's son).
April 1942 Alternate Indian Ocean
- Thread starter Zheng He
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OTL the parent unit of these P-38s, the 343rd Fighter Group that officially stood up in Alaska in September 1942 was initially commanded by Major John Chennault (yes, the other guy's son).
Driftless
Donor
Also, ITTL, isn't there a well connected US liaison officer with air service credentials attached to Somerville's staff?
Most of these ships are from OPERATION AL OTL:
1600 Hours, 21 May 1942, HIJMS Yamato, Hashirajima Anchorage, Japan - The Combined Fleet's battle force was due to sortie for exercises the next morning and with major fleet units assigned to OPERATION MI due to sortie in the next six to eight days, Admiral Yamamoto was running out of time to devote his attention to additional operations.
However, the approval of OPERATION CO by Admiral Nagano and the Imperial Navy General Staff meant the reshuffling of several units to the Southwest Area Fleet and its subordinate units the First and Second Southern Area Expeditionary Fleets at Singapore and Surabaya.
In addition to the submarines already headed south, the heavy cruisers Nachi, Myoko, and Haguro were ordered to Singapore along with six destroyers to join their sister ship Ashigara, then serving as the flagship of the Second Southern Area Expeditionary Fleet. Additionally, the light cruisers Kiso, Tama, and Kuma along with seven destroyers, a minelayer, three minesweepers, and three transports carrying the troops of the Attu and Kiska invasion forces were ordered south to Surabaya. The 1200 troops of the Attu invasion force would form the core of the invasion force for the Cocos Islands while the 550 troops and 700 construction workers of the Kiska invasion force were slated to go to Christmas Island to build facilities there.
Rounding out the forces headed south were the auxiliary cruisers Asaka Maru and Awata Maru and the seaplane tenders Kinugasa Maru and Sanuki Maru also going to Surabaya. The auxiliary cruisers were to undertake a raiding operation in the Indian Ocean that would hopefully draw off Allied naval and air forces while the seaplane tenders would establish a seaplane base at Christmas Island.
The flattops of Carrier Division Five remained under repair in Japan while the Junyo was training pilots for the three carriers' air groups. They were due to sail for Singapore along with additional ships currently participating in OPERATION MI at the end of June.
1600 Hours, 21 May 1942, HIJMS Yamato, Hashirajima Anchorage, Japan - The Combined Fleet's battle force was due to sortie for exercises the next morning and with major fleet units assigned to OPERATION MI due to sortie in the next six to eight days, Admiral Yamamoto was running out of time to devote his attention to additional operations.
However, the approval of OPERATION CO by Admiral Nagano and the Imperial Navy General Staff meant the reshuffling of several units to the Southwest Area Fleet and its subordinate units the First and Second Southern Area Expeditionary Fleets at Singapore and Surabaya.
In addition to the submarines already headed south, the heavy cruisers Nachi, Myoko, and Haguro were ordered to Singapore along with six destroyers to join their sister ship Ashigara, then serving as the flagship of the Second Southern Area Expeditionary Fleet. Additionally, the light cruisers Kiso, Tama, and Kuma along with seven destroyers, a minelayer, three minesweepers, and three transports carrying the troops of the Attu and Kiska invasion forces were ordered south to Surabaya. The 1200 troops of the Attu invasion force would form the core of the invasion force for the Cocos Islands while the 550 troops and 700 construction workers of the Kiska invasion force were slated to go to Christmas Island to build facilities there.
Rounding out the forces headed south were the auxiliary cruisers Asaka Maru and Awata Maru and the seaplane tenders Kinugasa Maru and Sanuki Maru also going to Surabaya. The auxiliary cruisers were to undertake a raiding operation in the Indian Ocean that would hopefully draw off Allied naval and air forces while the seaplane tenders would establish a seaplane base at Christmas Island.
The flattops of Carrier Division Five remained under repair in Japan while the Junyo was training pilots for the three carriers' air groups. They were due to sail for Singapore along with additional ships currently participating in OPERATION MI at the end of June.
I hope the poor Japanese sods who had been headed to Attu and Kiska got a change in kit - trying to do ANYTHING in the tropics in kit that's meant for the Aleutians.....
ViperKing
Banned
The cruisers are in Singapore or on the way to Singapore. Somerville's primary target for his upcoming attack is Sabang, with land based aircraft mounting pinprick raids on other targets. If the operation in July isn't radically altered or cancelled after Midway, Somerville will also have to still deal with three Japanese carriers and land based aircraft.
Though the possibility of one or two cruisers or destroyers or something being in Sabang or running across a British or Dutch submarine by chance can't be discounted.
Riain
Banned
Sommerville might change his plans if a juicy target like a surface task force comes within range. Indeed he might go out of his way to get these cruisers.
I feel your pain with the weather...was in Huntsville for the blizzard last week...expecting ice here in northern Mississippi tonight...
ctayfor
Monthly Donor
It's been a strange winter. Here in Calgary (Southern Alberta and 3000 feet above sea level) for more than half of our winter the temperatures have been above freezing. Several times during January and February it's been as high as 15C (about 60F).
Then again it's been as low as -22C (about 7F). Most winters we get as low as -40C (-40F). Not this year.
Driftless
Donor
Commander Stanhope Ring USN was the fellow you had noted at several points early in the thread. He had favorable connections with OTL Sommerville
ViperKing
Banned
As already mentioned, going deep into the Strait of Malacca would leave the British forces with little room to maneuver, easy prey for surface and submarine attack.
Not to mention that despite some recent setbacks, the Japanese still have a massive number of land based aircraft in the region. Army and Navy included, the Japanese probably have more fighters alone then Somerville has aircraft aboard his carriers. Sacrificing four aircraft carriers to take out a handful of cruisers is not a good thing for the British, and would completely undo everything they've accomplished ITTL, leaving the Japanese plans for later in June/July completely uncontested, and leaving the British with three or four fewer carriers for other operations down the road.
Also, from rereading the last few updates, it mentions that the cruisers are being ordered to Singapore, not all of them have actually arrived yet. Baring SIGINT, the British also at this time from my understanding also don't have the means to conduct air recon of Singapore anyway, so even any SIGINT would likely be dated to alter the end of May strikes at this date.
The Japanese may be somewhat weaker ITTL compared to OTL, and the British slightly, very slightly, stronger ITTL, but not by much, and baring a freak occurance or something, Somerville isn't stupid, retarded, or a risk taker if he doesn't have to be. Less then two months ago, ITTL, he was trying to keep his entire fleet from being slaughtered similar to the Americans at Pearl Harbor, or his Royal Navy comrades aboard HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse. Running into the teeth of the enemy to maybe take out two or three cruisers, at the risk of gutting the British carrier fleet, is suicide, and if he where to actually order it his subordinates or another Vice Admiral(Somerville is currently only a Vice Admiral to my understanding) would likely countermand him and possibly relieve him of command.
That's not to say that by chance one or two cruisers or some of these other ships the Japanese are sending to the region or that are already present might not happen to make a port call in Sabang by coincidence(if the author so chooses), or that allied submarines might not get lucky and blow one or two ships out of the water.
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The Royal Navy has "previous form" on attacking a fleet in its 'safe' port and remains happily smug to this day about it.
Things are starting to get busy again:
0700 Hours, 22 May 1942, Sabang Airfield, Sumatra – It would be a long mission, almost 2500 miles round trip but the well trained G4M Betty crews of the Kanoya Kokutai were up to the task. Japanese commanders were becoming increasingly concerned about the amount of construction activity going on at the Cocos Islands so 12 G4Ms armed with four 250 kilogram bombs each were tasked to pay the base a visit. There were also larger concerns about stepped up enemy activity in general. The day before fighters based at Sabang had chased away a PBY flying boat on a reconnaissance mission near the base. Enemy flying boats had been sighted over Sumatra and Java with increasing regularity with one shot down two days ago while reported submarine sightings in the Andaman Sea and Strait of Malacca were on the rise as well.
For Ozawa back in Singapore it was a frustrating exercise in managing his assets. He wanted better airborne reconnaissance coverage of the approaches to Sabang and the Sunda Strait but constant and aggressive patrols would wear out his aircraft and crews in short order. This was particularly a problem for the G4M and G3M squadrons at Sabang since their primary mission was anti-shipping, not reconnaissance. All Ozawa could do was order his air unit commanders to provide an appropriate level of airborne patrol coverage while not hurting the overall readiness of their aircraft and crews.
0700 Hours, 22 May 1942, Sabang Airfield, Sumatra – It would be a long mission, almost 2500 miles round trip but the well trained G4M Betty crews of the Kanoya Kokutai were up to the task. Japanese commanders were becoming increasingly concerned about the amount of construction activity going on at the Cocos Islands so 12 G4Ms armed with four 250 kilogram bombs each were tasked to pay the base a visit. There were also larger concerns about stepped up enemy activity in general. The day before fighters based at Sabang had chased away a PBY flying boat on a reconnaissance mission near the base. Enemy flying boats had been sighted over Sumatra and Java with increasing regularity with one shot down two days ago while reported submarine sightings in the Andaman Sea and Strait of Malacca were on the rise as well.
For Ozawa back in Singapore it was a frustrating exercise in managing his assets. He wanted better airborne reconnaissance coverage of the approaches to Sabang and the Sunda Strait but constant and aggressive patrols would wear out his aircraft and crews in short order. This was particularly a problem for the G4M and G3M squadrons at Sabang since their primary mission was anti-shipping, not reconnaissance. All Ozawa could do was order his air unit commanders to provide an appropriate level of airborne patrol coverage while not hurting the overall readiness of their aircraft and crews.
Note - Chester Jr. did lead the attempted rescue mission OTL. Also, using USS Sturgeon as part of the Eastern Fleet's late May 1942 operations and having her patrol near the Sunda Strait butterflies away her OTL 1 July 1942 sinking of the transport Montevideo Maru near the Philippines causing the death of 1000 Australian POWs.
0800 Hours, 22 May 1942, Fremantle, Australia – The merchant ship SS Torrens departed Fremantle, Australia bound for the Cocos Islands on the morning of 22 May loaded with the 17 B-439 model Brewster Buffaloes of No. 25 Squadron of the RAAF. The new airfield was scheduled to be completed by the time the Torrens was scheduled to arrive in a week. The planes would need to be reassembled upon arrival although all 17 fighters had already been modified to what was dubbed the Far Eastern Standard – nose mounted guns, gun cameras, less essential armor, and any naval survival gear removed in order to save as much weight as possible.
Sailing with the Torrens was the merchant ship SS Hawaiian Star loaded with spare parts and engines for No. 25 Squadron as well as parts and supplies for the Bristol Beaufort equipped No. 100 Squadron and the Fairey Battle equipped No. 15 Squadron. Both ships carried pilots and ground crews for all three squadrons. The aircraft of No. 100 and 15 Squadrons were scheduled to fly directly to the Cocos Islands on 29 May from an auxiliary airfield near Exmouth, 700 miles north of Fremantle.
The small convoy was taking under escort by the old American four piper destroyers USS Alden, USS Whipple, and USS Parrott along with the old minesweeper USS Whippoorwill.
Departing with the convoy was the submarine USS Sturgeon. She was tasked to land a small team of Australian commandos on Christmas Island and then proceed to a patrol area south of the Sunda Strait. Sturgeon was chosen for the mission because her crew already had some experience in this sort of action when on 30 April Sturgeon put ashore a small landing party led by Lieutenant Chester W. Nimitz Jr. in a failed attempt to rescue RAAF personnel trapped on Tjilatjap Island.
0800 Hours, 22 May 1942, Fremantle, Australia – The merchant ship SS Torrens departed Fremantle, Australia bound for the Cocos Islands on the morning of 22 May loaded with the 17 B-439 model Brewster Buffaloes of No. 25 Squadron of the RAAF. The new airfield was scheduled to be completed by the time the Torrens was scheduled to arrive in a week. The planes would need to be reassembled upon arrival although all 17 fighters had already been modified to what was dubbed the Far Eastern Standard – nose mounted guns, gun cameras, less essential armor, and any naval survival gear removed in order to save as much weight as possible.
Sailing with the Torrens was the merchant ship SS Hawaiian Star loaded with spare parts and engines for No. 25 Squadron as well as parts and supplies for the Bristol Beaufort equipped No. 100 Squadron and the Fairey Battle equipped No. 15 Squadron. Both ships carried pilots and ground crews for all three squadrons. The aircraft of No. 100 and 15 Squadrons were scheduled to fly directly to the Cocos Islands on 29 May from an auxiliary airfield near Exmouth, 700 miles north of Fremantle.
The small convoy was taking under escort by the old American four piper destroyers USS Alden, USS Whipple, and USS Parrott along with the old minesweeper USS Whippoorwill.
Departing with the convoy was the submarine USS Sturgeon. She was tasked to land a small team of Australian commandos on Christmas Island and then proceed to a patrol area south of the Sunda Strait. Sturgeon was chosen for the mission because her crew already had some experience in this sort of action when on 30 April Sturgeon put ashore a small landing party led by Lieutenant Chester W. Nimitz Jr. in a failed attempt to rescue RAAF personnel trapped on Tjilatjap Island.
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1300 Hours, 22 May 1942, Cocos Islands, Indian Ocean – It had been a long and boring flight for the crews of the 11 G4M Betty bombers. One of the 12 that had taken off from Sabang aborted early due to engine trouble while the rest continued on the six hour flight.
The radar at Cocos Island picked up the incoming formation at 30 miles out but everyone assumed the contact was another Japanese patrol plane. Therefore it was rather shocking to the garrison, ships’ crews, and construction workers when the neat formation of 11 two engine bombers appeared overhead. With no fighters available there was not much the defenders could do although the guns crews on the ground and on the ships got over their surprise quickly enough.
Undeterred by the inaccurate anti-aircraft fire the bomber crews continued on their bomb run. However, being good navy pilots, they concentrated on the ships in the harbor instead of the airfield still under construction. The submarine tender USS Holland was hit by a single 250 kilogram high explosive bomb and also received damage underwater from two near misses. The submarine USS Porpoise tied up alongside Holland and receiving repairs took one direct hit and one damaging near miss that caused her to sink although most of her crew escaped. The only other ship damaged from the bombing was the corvette HMS Hollyhock that received splinter damage from a near miss killing several exposed crewmen.
As the bombers departed one of them attacked a returning PBY Catalina but got more than it bargained for from the lumbering amphibian. The PBY’s pilot used his slow speed to snap turn and cause the Betty to overshoot while his starboard waist gunner raked their attacker with his .50 caliber machine gun. Several of the bullets found the unfortunate bomber’s fuel tank with results that were both predictable and spectacular.
Less one bomber, the Japanese formation turned for home, it would be dark by the time they got back to Sabang.
For the Allies it could have been worse. Damage to USS Holland and HMS Hollyhock could be repaired on site and while the loss of USS Porpoise hurt, the enemy had not touched the unfinished airfield. Hopefully their luck in that department would hold out.
The radar at Cocos Island picked up the incoming formation at 30 miles out but everyone assumed the contact was another Japanese patrol plane. Therefore it was rather shocking to the garrison, ships’ crews, and construction workers when the neat formation of 11 two engine bombers appeared overhead. With no fighters available there was not much the defenders could do although the guns crews on the ground and on the ships got over their surprise quickly enough.
Undeterred by the inaccurate anti-aircraft fire the bomber crews continued on their bomb run. However, being good navy pilots, they concentrated on the ships in the harbor instead of the airfield still under construction. The submarine tender USS Holland was hit by a single 250 kilogram high explosive bomb and also received damage underwater from two near misses. The submarine USS Porpoise tied up alongside Holland and receiving repairs took one direct hit and one damaging near miss that caused her to sink although most of her crew escaped. The only other ship damaged from the bombing was the corvette HMS Hollyhock that received splinter damage from a near miss killing several exposed crewmen.
As the bombers departed one of them attacked a returning PBY Catalina but got more than it bargained for from the lumbering amphibian. The PBY’s pilot used his slow speed to snap turn and cause the Betty to overshoot while his starboard waist gunner raked their attacker with his .50 caliber machine gun. Several of the bullets found the unfortunate bomber’s fuel tank with results that were both predictable and spectacular.
Less one bomber, the Japanese formation turned for home, it would be dark by the time they got back to Sabang.
For the Allies it could have been worse. Damage to USS Holland and HMS Hollyhock could be repaired on site and while the loss of USS Porpoise hurt, the enemy had not touched the unfinished airfield. Hopefully their luck in that department would hold out.
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