3212
December 11th, 1941
Malaysian Campaign
The air battle - The battle continues with a relentlessness shared by both sides.
At dawn, British bombers hit the Dong-Muang and Singora airfields, as well as well as the railroad coming from the isthmus of Kra. A raid that is not without risks...
***
The staff officer watches as the last of the 18 Wellingtons of Sqn 14 and 223 disappear into the darkness over the Tengah/Singapore field. None of the crew members had protested that they were going to conduct a daylight return raid in their big, black-bellied twin-engine planes, designed to strike at night. "Did I just send them to get killed?" he thinks for the hundredth time. A quiet cough brings him out of his thoughts. The sergeant has the face of a bearer of bad news. "Excuse me, sir, but the wire service says there's been another one.
- Again? What the hell are they doing at the wire service?
- They're doing their best, sir. We've already had that bastard Heenan, we'll have this one too.
Every time the British bombers take off, a Japanese agent would broadcast, from Singapore or Johor. He has so far escaped detection, despite all efforts.
The officer feels sick at the thought of the reception that awaited the Wellingtons and Manchester. "Do you think the Colonel will approve my request for a transfer to a combat unit, Sarge?" he sighs.
***
"The takeoff of the six Manchesters had been reported, but the idea that Dong-Muang might have been targeted had been dismissed as absurd by the Japanese. The attack took them and their allies completely by surprise, as did their Thai allies. Only seven Ki-48 light bombers were destroyed, but the psychological effect was great. All the Manchesters managed to avoid interception, but one had to land at Sungei-Patani due to an engine problem and was demolished when it passed through a bomb crater.
On the other hand, over Singora, a welcoming committee was planned: 15 Ki-27s and 9 Ki-43s. Moreover, some low clouds partially masked the objective. But it was necessary to bring more than that for pilots who had flown over Germany. It was the turn of the Japanese fighters to be surprised: first, the British did not scatter like sparrows when they saw them coming. They did not even change course or altitude. Secondly, a fighter who was in the tail of a Wellington would find that he was facing a quadruple machine gun turret, capable of returning a blow for blow and with wear and tear. Last but not least, it soon became clear that the heavy Vickers machines were much better than the small machines from Nakajima...
The Wellingtons rolled out a neat carpet of bombs on the Singora field, destroying seven Ki-27s, 12 Ki-30s and five Ki-51s. The gunners shot down five Ki-27s and three Ki-43s for the loss of only two Wellingtons. However, seven others were damaged, two of which had to make an emergency landing at Butterworth.
Meanwhile, the Hudsons of Sqn 1 (RAAF) attacked the Kra Isthmus railroad, cutting it in at least two places, but losing four planes to Japanese fighters.
Overall, the dawn raid was much more successful than the night raid. However, the wear and tear on the bombing force was not negligible, especially that, during the day, the Blenheims attacking the Japanese positions around Jitra lost seven planes, plus five severely damaged, during raids conducted without escort, the surviving Hurricanes were reserved for defense." (P. N'Guyen-Minh, op. cit.).
The IJAAF, despite the attack on its main grounds, is able to mount three major raids that day. At noon, the city of Kuala-Lumpur and the Subang airfield are attacked by a formation of 36 Ki-21s escorted by 15 Ki-43s and 21 Ki-27s. Hurricanes intercept and destroy 7 bombers and 5 escort fighters at the cost of 5 of their own, plus 4 severely damaged. If the ratio of victories to losses improves, these figures mean that there are only 22 Hurricanes remaining, 14 of which are still flying. At 15:30, 18 Ki-21 escorted by 18 Ki-27 strike Penang, again targeting the city of Georgetown. This city is only defended by the nine Dutch Buffaloes of the ML-KNIL: five are shot down and two damaged, against three bombers and two fighters. One of the results of the raid is that the city's water treatment plant is put out of action. The last raid is an innovation: 36 Ki-21s attack Singapore for the first time, and at night, at 22:30. The night is clear and the Defiant II night fighters of Sqn 27 (RAF) destroy five attackers, but the city is hit and the morale of the population is very low.
Overall, the Allied situation in the air is worrisome. It is true that the IJAAF suffered such losses that its bombing potential is reduced by 50%, but the Commonwealth fighter units in charge of defending the Kedah are practically non-existent. The possibility of defending strategic targets in Central Malaysia is marginal at best, and the ability to influence ground operations is seriously reduced.
.........
Kedah Front - The ground battle offers a somewhat brighter picture.
Commonwealth forces hold Kroh firmly, where Japanese attacks are repeatedly repelled. Krohcol is clearly holding a considerable Japanese force.
Around Jitra, the situation is confusing. Attacking at night, the Japanese infiltrate as far as the rear of the 2nd Battalion of the 5th Armoured Regiment. At 02:30, nine infantry A12 Mk II tanks (Matilda II) are destroyed by suicide teams using demolition charges. In the confusion that followed, POL trucks and repair shops are set on fire. Major General H.C.H. Robertson, commanding the 1st Australian Armoured Division, requests permission to withdraw his tanks south of the Kedah River after nightfall to avoid a repetition of such incidents.
In the same way, the infantry holding the front around Jitra discovers that the Japanese units facing them are able to penetrate the gaps between the allied units or even sub-units, threatening to destroy them in detail. This is the case on the right wing of the Allied forces. In the late evening, Brigadier B.W. Key (8th Indian Infantry Brigade) confers with Major-General D.M. Murray-Lyon (11th Indian Division) and Major-General H.G. Bennett (8th Australian Division) when a new Japanese attack is announced.
The Japanese forces try to overrun Jitra and resume their push towards the Kedah River. As Brigadier Key reaches his brigade headquarters, he is slightly wounded by a surprise attack, which causes considerable confusion and panic. Japanese units, under cover of a violent storm and heavy rain, penetrated the perimeter defense. The 2nd Loyal Regiment and the 2nd Battalion of the 10th Baluch repel the Japanese attempt to cross the Kedah River and the attackers are eliminated by midnight, but casualties are heavy and some companies are isolated.
On the other hand, if the enemy artillery is much less present than on December 8th and 9th, the mortar fire, which is often accurate, is a constant nuisance. For its part, lacking aircraft capable of directing fire the Commonwealth artillery now has difficulties in aiming at valuable targets.
Malaysian Campaign
The air battle - The battle continues with a relentlessness shared by both sides.
At dawn, British bombers hit the Dong-Muang and Singora airfields, as well as well as the railroad coming from the isthmus of Kra. A raid that is not without risks...
***
The staff officer watches as the last of the 18 Wellingtons of Sqn 14 and 223 disappear into the darkness over the Tengah/Singapore field. None of the crew members had protested that they were going to conduct a daylight return raid in their big, black-bellied twin-engine planes, designed to strike at night. "Did I just send them to get killed?" he thinks for the hundredth time. A quiet cough brings him out of his thoughts. The sergeant has the face of a bearer of bad news. "Excuse me, sir, but the wire service says there's been another one.
- Again? What the hell are they doing at the wire service?
- They're doing their best, sir. We've already had that bastard Heenan, we'll have this one too.
Every time the British bombers take off, a Japanese agent would broadcast, from Singapore or Johor. He has so far escaped detection, despite all efforts.
The officer feels sick at the thought of the reception that awaited the Wellingtons and Manchester. "Do you think the Colonel will approve my request for a transfer to a combat unit, Sarge?" he sighs.
***
"The takeoff of the six Manchesters had been reported, but the idea that Dong-Muang might have been targeted had been dismissed as absurd by the Japanese. The attack took them and their allies completely by surprise, as did their Thai allies. Only seven Ki-48 light bombers were destroyed, but the psychological effect was great. All the Manchesters managed to avoid interception, but one had to land at Sungei-Patani due to an engine problem and was demolished when it passed through a bomb crater.
On the other hand, over Singora, a welcoming committee was planned: 15 Ki-27s and 9 Ki-43s. Moreover, some low clouds partially masked the objective. But it was necessary to bring more than that for pilots who had flown over Germany. It was the turn of the Japanese fighters to be surprised: first, the British did not scatter like sparrows when they saw them coming. They did not even change course or altitude. Secondly, a fighter who was in the tail of a Wellington would find that he was facing a quadruple machine gun turret, capable of returning a blow for blow and with wear and tear. Last but not least, it soon became clear that the heavy Vickers machines were much better than the small machines from Nakajima...
The Wellingtons rolled out a neat carpet of bombs on the Singora field, destroying seven Ki-27s, 12 Ki-30s and five Ki-51s. The gunners shot down five Ki-27s and three Ki-43s for the loss of only two Wellingtons. However, seven others were damaged, two of which had to make an emergency landing at Butterworth.
Meanwhile, the Hudsons of Sqn 1 (RAAF) attacked the Kra Isthmus railroad, cutting it in at least two places, but losing four planes to Japanese fighters.
Overall, the dawn raid was much more successful than the night raid. However, the wear and tear on the bombing force was not negligible, especially that, during the day, the Blenheims attacking the Japanese positions around Jitra lost seven planes, plus five severely damaged, during raids conducted without escort, the surviving Hurricanes were reserved for defense." (P. N'Guyen-Minh, op. cit.).
The IJAAF, despite the attack on its main grounds, is able to mount three major raids that day. At noon, the city of Kuala-Lumpur and the Subang airfield are attacked by a formation of 36 Ki-21s escorted by 15 Ki-43s and 21 Ki-27s. Hurricanes intercept and destroy 7 bombers and 5 escort fighters at the cost of 5 of their own, plus 4 severely damaged. If the ratio of victories to losses improves, these figures mean that there are only 22 Hurricanes remaining, 14 of which are still flying. At 15:30, 18 Ki-21 escorted by 18 Ki-27 strike Penang, again targeting the city of Georgetown. This city is only defended by the nine Dutch Buffaloes of the ML-KNIL: five are shot down and two damaged, against three bombers and two fighters. One of the results of the raid is that the city's water treatment plant is put out of action. The last raid is an innovation: 36 Ki-21s attack Singapore for the first time, and at night, at 22:30. The night is clear and the Defiant II night fighters of Sqn 27 (RAF) destroy five attackers, but the city is hit and the morale of the population is very low.
Overall, the Allied situation in the air is worrisome. It is true that the IJAAF suffered such losses that its bombing potential is reduced by 50%, but the Commonwealth fighter units in charge of defending the Kedah are practically non-existent. The possibility of defending strategic targets in Central Malaysia is marginal at best, and the ability to influence ground operations is seriously reduced.
.........
Kedah Front - The ground battle offers a somewhat brighter picture.
Commonwealth forces hold Kroh firmly, where Japanese attacks are repeatedly repelled. Krohcol is clearly holding a considerable Japanese force.
Around Jitra, the situation is confusing. Attacking at night, the Japanese infiltrate as far as the rear of the 2nd Battalion of the 5th Armoured Regiment. At 02:30, nine infantry A12 Mk II tanks (Matilda II) are destroyed by suicide teams using demolition charges. In the confusion that followed, POL trucks and repair shops are set on fire. Major General H.C.H. Robertson, commanding the 1st Australian Armoured Division, requests permission to withdraw his tanks south of the Kedah River after nightfall to avoid a repetition of such incidents.
In the same way, the infantry holding the front around Jitra discovers that the Japanese units facing them are able to penetrate the gaps between the allied units or even sub-units, threatening to destroy them in detail. This is the case on the right wing of the Allied forces. In the late evening, Brigadier B.W. Key (8th Indian Infantry Brigade) confers with Major-General D.M. Murray-Lyon (11th Indian Division) and Major-General H.G. Bennett (8th Australian Division) when a new Japanese attack is announced.
The Japanese forces try to overrun Jitra and resume their push towards the Kedah River. As Brigadier Key reaches his brigade headquarters, he is slightly wounded by a surprise attack, which causes considerable confusion and panic. Japanese units, under cover of a violent storm and heavy rain, penetrated the perimeter defense. The 2nd Loyal Regiment and the 2nd Battalion of the 10th Baluch repel the Japanese attempt to cross the Kedah River and the attackers are eliminated by midnight, but casualties are heavy and some companies are isolated.
On the other hand, if the enemy artillery is much less present than on December 8th and 9th, the mortar fire, which is often accurate, is a constant nuisance. For its part, lacking aircraft capable of directing fire the Commonwealth artillery now has difficulties in aiming at valuable targets.
