Fantasque Time Line (France Fights On) - English Translation
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4665 - Battle of Liepaja
June 8th, 1942
Barbarossa
- Northern sector and Baltic Sea
00:02 - The two destroyers and the three German torpedo boats hurry on the tracks of the S-Boots. These, having bypassed the Russian patrol boats (and, without knowing it, their minefield), approaches the position of the ships bombing the German land forces. The German plan is to catch the Russians between the S-Boats and the destroyers and torpedo boats. But at this moment, the destroyer Z-27 hits a Soviet mine, which destroys the bow of the ship up to its forward turret. The Soviet patrol boats, until then unaware of the German presence, wake up and begin to fire at random. The Germans retaliate quickly, but they know who they are shooting at, and they are accurate.
00:03 - Understanding that the surprise effect is lost, the commander of the 2nd Flotilla orders to attack the nearest enemy ships immediately. These are some of the ships escorting the Marat and the Kirov. Their crews are more attentive than those of the patrol boats but they are caught cold by adversaries who are as stealthy as their torpedoes are accurate. From the first salvo, the DL Minsk and the DD Spokoiny, hit, sink quickly. Then, the S-43 is set on fire by the DD Stoyky and Serdyty, but the Skory is immobilized by a new torpedo. The other S-Boats then retreat at full speed behind a curtain of smoke, not without having seen what they believe to be "a battleship, a heavy cruiser and a light one" (probably the DL Leningrad).
Further south, the four intact German destroyers and torpedo boats cause damage to the Soviets: three of the G-5s are sunk, and a fourth so damaged that it has to be scuttled.
00:14 - While trying to withdraw, the Z-27 hits another mine. Soviet sources claim that it was a device from the new minefield. This seems unlikely; according to the Germans, the crew of the Z-27 lost track of the ship's position after the explosion of the first mine and got lost in a German minefield... In any case, the unlucky destroyer starts to sink. The T-7 joins it and recovers the crew.
00:23 - Informed by the S-Boats that the Soviet fleet was powerful and on the alert, Rear Admiral Bey decides to return to Pillau. The battle is over.
01:02 - The Soviet destroyers that had landed troops in Liepaja leave, following the ships that had shelled the German positins.
01:07 - The Skory, whose machinery is beyond repair, must be scuttled.
The Soviets lost one DL, two DD and four speedboats, against one DD and one speedoboat only. But the result of what some historians call "Battle of Liepaja", others "Battle of the Gulf of Riga" does not satisfy anyone.
"Vice-Admiral Tributs rightly accused the G-5 crews of mediocrity, unable to play their role of sentinels in this operation. The first two losses suffered by the Soviets could probably have been avoided if the alert had been given in time. Nevertheless, Tributs commended N.E. Feldman for his idea to combine a convoy to Liepaja with a powerful naval bombardment. The double screen established around the heavy units of the Baltic Fleet had prevented the enemy from attacking or even approach them. Moreover, the Marat and the Kirov, well grouped, had been able to inflict even more damage. The operational concepts used in this operation were sound, although they could be improved upon. Finally, Tributs attributed most of the shortcomings he observed in the reactions of the Soviet crews to the lack of realistic training in the reactions of the Soviet crews in this combat." (A.A. Sagoyan, Korabel'naja Artillerija v Velikoj Otechetsvennoj Vojne, Naval Publishing House, Moscow, 1952, pp. 34-35).
On the German side, the reaction is even more negative. Although the Kriegsmarine inflicted the enemy with losses clearly superior to those it had suffered, it could not prevent either reinforcements from reaching Liepaja, nor a naval bombardment that caused serious losses to the German troops. This last point in particular raises Hitler's anger. He convenes at his Rastenburg HQ Vice-Admiral Ciliax, commander of the naval units in the Baltic Sea, and Grand Admiral Raeder.
...
- Central sector
The fighting near Starya Dorogi becomes more violent, with the engagement, on the German side, of 30 to 35 tanks of the Guderian PanzerGruppe. During the day, the Luftwaffe carries out day 154 missions in this sector, against 213 for the VVS; seven German and 19 Soviet aircraft are shot down. At the end of the day, the initial front line is re-established. The Soviets lose 27 tanks and the Germans 16. But the Soviet forces are able to recover a large group of fighters. These are 2,765 men and women survivors of a group that its improvised commander, a veteran colonel of the Civil War, estimated at 5,600 when the fighting began.
Frank Capra will make a place for this episode in the part devoted to the USSR in Why We Fight to show the Russians' will to fight. And of course, the Soviet cinema will celebrate several times the heroes of the Starya Dorogi battles, dead or alive, men or women, tankers, paratroopers, riflemen or airmen, in films released during the war and until the sixties.
...
- Southern sector
North of Ivanovo-Frankovsk, the Soviets launch a limited attack to enlarge their defensive perimeter. The attack is repulsed, because the Soviet artillery lacks ammunition to implement the planned barrage. In fact, the salient of Ivanovo-Frankovsk is not threatened, because its northern flank is held by the Hungarians and its southern flank by the Romanians: the two peoples have been at loggerheads for years and neither wants to contribute to a victory of the other.
Near Kishinev, from June 8th to 10th, the 9th Army of General Cheveritshenko attempts a new counter-attack targeting the 1st Guards Division (Romanian), at the junction between the 11th German-Romanian Army and the 4th Romanian Army. Romanian bombers intervene and break the attackers' momentum by dropping 37 tons of bombs, but three aircraft are shot down.
Barbarossa
- Northern sector and Baltic Sea
00:02 - The two destroyers and the three German torpedo boats hurry on the tracks of the S-Boots. These, having bypassed the Russian patrol boats (and, without knowing it, their minefield), approaches the position of the ships bombing the German land forces. The German plan is to catch the Russians between the S-Boats and the destroyers and torpedo boats. But at this moment, the destroyer Z-27 hits a Soviet mine, which destroys the bow of the ship up to its forward turret. The Soviet patrol boats, until then unaware of the German presence, wake up and begin to fire at random. The Germans retaliate quickly, but they know who they are shooting at, and they are accurate.
00:03 - Understanding that the surprise effect is lost, the commander of the 2nd Flotilla orders to attack the nearest enemy ships immediately. These are some of the ships escorting the Marat and the Kirov. Their crews are more attentive than those of the patrol boats but they are caught cold by adversaries who are as stealthy as their torpedoes are accurate. From the first salvo, the DL Minsk and the DD Spokoiny, hit, sink quickly. Then, the S-43 is set on fire by the DD Stoyky and Serdyty, but the Skory is immobilized by a new torpedo. The other S-Boats then retreat at full speed behind a curtain of smoke, not without having seen what they believe to be "a battleship, a heavy cruiser and a light one" (probably the DL Leningrad).
Further south, the four intact German destroyers and torpedo boats cause damage to the Soviets: three of the G-5s are sunk, and a fourth so damaged that it has to be scuttled.
00:14 - While trying to withdraw, the Z-27 hits another mine. Soviet sources claim that it was a device from the new minefield. This seems unlikely; according to the Germans, the crew of the Z-27 lost track of the ship's position after the explosion of the first mine and got lost in a German minefield... In any case, the unlucky destroyer starts to sink. The T-7 joins it and recovers the crew.
00:23 - Informed by the S-Boats that the Soviet fleet was powerful and on the alert, Rear Admiral Bey decides to return to Pillau. The battle is over.
01:02 - The Soviet destroyers that had landed troops in Liepaja leave, following the ships that had shelled the German positins.
01:07 - The Skory, whose machinery is beyond repair, must be scuttled.
The Soviets lost one DL, two DD and four speedboats, against one DD and one speedoboat only. But the result of what some historians call "Battle of Liepaja", others "Battle of the Gulf of Riga" does not satisfy anyone.
"Vice-Admiral Tributs rightly accused the G-5 crews of mediocrity, unable to play their role of sentinels in this operation. The first two losses suffered by the Soviets could probably have been avoided if the alert had been given in time. Nevertheless, Tributs commended N.E. Feldman for his idea to combine a convoy to Liepaja with a powerful naval bombardment. The double screen established around the heavy units of the Baltic Fleet had prevented the enemy from attacking or even approach them. Moreover, the Marat and the Kirov, well grouped, had been able to inflict even more damage. The operational concepts used in this operation were sound, although they could be improved upon. Finally, Tributs attributed most of the shortcomings he observed in the reactions of the Soviet crews to the lack of realistic training in the reactions of the Soviet crews in this combat." (A.A. Sagoyan, Korabel'naja Artillerija v Velikoj Otechetsvennoj Vojne, Naval Publishing House, Moscow, 1952, pp. 34-35).
On the German side, the reaction is even more negative. Although the Kriegsmarine inflicted the enemy with losses clearly superior to those it had suffered, it could not prevent either reinforcements from reaching Liepaja, nor a naval bombardment that caused serious losses to the German troops. This last point in particular raises Hitler's anger. He convenes at his Rastenburg HQ Vice-Admiral Ciliax, commander of the naval units in the Baltic Sea, and Grand Admiral Raeder.
...
- Central sector
The fighting near Starya Dorogi becomes more violent, with the engagement, on the German side, of 30 to 35 tanks of the Guderian PanzerGruppe. During the day, the Luftwaffe carries out day 154 missions in this sector, against 213 for the VVS; seven German and 19 Soviet aircraft are shot down. At the end of the day, the initial front line is re-established. The Soviets lose 27 tanks and the Germans 16. But the Soviet forces are able to recover a large group of fighters. These are 2,765 men and women survivors of a group that its improvised commander, a veteran colonel of the Civil War, estimated at 5,600 when the fighting began.
Frank Capra will make a place for this episode in the part devoted to the USSR in Why We Fight to show the Russians' will to fight. And of course, the Soviet cinema will celebrate several times the heroes of the Starya Dorogi battles, dead or alive, men or women, tankers, paratroopers, riflemen or airmen, in films released during the war and until the sixties.
...
- Southern sector
North of Ivanovo-Frankovsk, the Soviets launch a limited attack to enlarge their defensive perimeter. The attack is repulsed, because the Soviet artillery lacks ammunition to implement the planned barrage. In fact, the salient of Ivanovo-Frankovsk is not threatened, because its northern flank is held by the Hungarians and its southern flank by the Romanians: the two peoples have been at loggerheads for years and neither wants to contribute to a victory of the other.
Near Kishinev, from June 8th to 10th, the 9th Army of General Cheveritshenko attempts a new counter-attack targeting the 1st Guards Division (Romanian), at the junction between the 11th German-Romanian Army and the 4th Romanian Army. Romanian bombers intervene and break the attackers' momentum by dropping 37 tons of bombs, but three aircraft are shot down.
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4666
June 8th, 1942
Great Britain - The heavy cruiser Algérie leaves the Clyde, where she spent four weeks after the departure of the Richelieu from Scapa Flow for a brief well-deserved refit. The AA guns have been replaced by four double 40 mm Bofors mounts and the radar system has been upgraded with a Type-2 modernized, with a Type-281 for air surveillance, a Type-284 for main fire control and three Type-282s for the fire control of the flak. Algérie will join the Western Mediterranean.
Great Britain - The heavy cruiser Algérie leaves the Clyde, where she spent four weeks after the departure of the Richelieu from Scapa Flow for a brief well-deserved refit. The AA guns have been replaced by four double 40 mm Bofors mounts and the radar system has been upgraded with a Type-2 modernized, with a Type-281 for air surveillance, a Type-284 for main fire control and three Type-282s for the fire control of the flak. Algérie will join the Western Mediterranean.
4668
June 9th, 1942
Riga - Einsatzgruppe A again encourages "self-purification" by unleashing Latvian nationalist volunteers of the Pērkonkrusts on the Jewish quarter. The synagogues are burned, 400 to 800 Jews massacred. This result is still below the Nazi expectations: despite intensive propaganda to present the Jews as responsible for the communist crimes, the mass of the population did not follow.
In fact, the policy of "self-purification" of the conquered territories, i.e. the elimination of the Jews, presented as a spontaneous movement, was not followed.
The Nazis are disappointed by the policy of "self-purification" of the conquered territories, i.e. the elimination of the Jews, which was presented as a spontaneous movement of the indigenous population.
Anti-Soviet partisan units claiming to be from groups such as the LAF (Lithuanian Activist Front) in Lithuania, the Pērkonkrusts in Latvia, and the OUA in western Ukraine certainly show good dispositions, but in exchange for the elimination of the Jews they demand an autonomy that the Germans are not at all willing to grant them. And in Belarus, Einsatzgruppe B meets with a blatant lack of cooperation from the beginning among the local population. Even in the Baltic States, a distressed report from Einsatzgruppe A noted that "spontaneous clean-up actions were insufficient, especially since the enthusiasm of the population is rapidly waning."
The Germans resign themselves to dissolving the nationalist groups, even though many of their men are recycled into the various auxiliary police forces. The decision had been taken for Lithuania on May 20th, for Ukraine on June 1st. In Latvia, due to the prolongation of the fighting, the Latvian Volunteers will keep a relative autonomy until the beginning of August.
In total, the few dozen "spontaneous pogroms" in the towns and villages "only" caused a few thousand deaths. And they largely missed their theoretical target: the most dangerous elements (from the Nazi point of view), the members of the Communist Party and their families, were generally evacuated before the Germans arrived.
Riga - Einsatzgruppe A again encourages "self-purification" by unleashing Latvian nationalist volunteers of the Pērkonkrusts on the Jewish quarter. The synagogues are burned, 400 to 800 Jews massacred. This result is still below the Nazi expectations: despite intensive propaganda to present the Jews as responsible for the communist crimes, the mass of the population did not follow.
In fact, the policy of "self-purification" of the conquered territories, i.e. the elimination of the Jews, presented as a spontaneous movement, was not followed.
The Nazis are disappointed by the policy of "self-purification" of the conquered territories, i.e. the elimination of the Jews, which was presented as a spontaneous movement of the indigenous population.
Anti-Soviet partisan units claiming to be from groups such as the LAF (Lithuanian Activist Front) in Lithuania, the Pērkonkrusts in Latvia, and the OUA in western Ukraine certainly show good dispositions, but in exchange for the elimination of the Jews they demand an autonomy that the Germans are not at all willing to grant them. And in Belarus, Einsatzgruppe B meets with a blatant lack of cooperation from the beginning among the local population. Even in the Baltic States, a distressed report from Einsatzgruppe A noted that "spontaneous clean-up actions were insufficient, especially since the enthusiasm of the population is rapidly waning."
The Germans resign themselves to dissolving the nationalist groups, even though many of their men are recycled into the various auxiliary police forces. The decision had been taken for Lithuania on May 20th, for Ukraine on June 1st. In Latvia, due to the prolongation of the fighting, the Latvian Volunteers will keep a relative autonomy until the beginning of August.
In total, the few dozen "spontaneous pogroms" in the towns and villages "only" caused a few thousand deaths. And they largely missed their theoretical target: the most dangerous elements (from the Nazi point of view), the members of the Communist Party and their families, were generally evacuated before the Germans arrived.
4669
June 9th, 1942
The Battle of Singapore - III
Malaya
- Force East - Operational HQ report: "All is quiet."
...
- Main Force - As the weather improves, patrols of the 9th Indian Division find the Japanese of the 27th Division well entrenched across the railroad tracks.
The 11th Indian Division, on the other hand, has lost contact with the enemy on the main road. Its advance is hampered only by trees felled by the Japanese or by the previous day's deluge.
The advance units suffer some losses, however, as the torrents of mud that cut the road sometimes carried mines in the middle of piles of branches and leaves. It seems that the Japanese have largely retreated to Ayer Hitam or even to Kluang.
...
- Western Force - The attack on the western front of Ayer Hitam (from Batu Pahat) is suspended, as all artillery support must be concentrated on the northwest front (from Yong Peng), where the infantry is advancing over a thousand meters wide front. At this point, the Japanese have deployed three companies supported by mortars to cover the northwest approaches of Ayer Hitam on hills overlooking the road, in front of the Sungei Semberang and an area of swamp, brush and jungle. The defenders have good fields of fire, but cannot rely for concealment on the tall grass and ferns that cover the slopes of the hills, as they had been badly degraded by artillery fire.
The attack is resumed in the afternoon. At the end of the day, the weight of the artillery and the numerical superiority of the attackers are felt. The Japanese infantry, which has once again demonstrated its heroic endurance and resolve, withdraws in good order during the night through the marshes. The Japanese still hold the village of Ayer Hitam and its crossroads.
Singapore - Fishing boats and other small vessels are used to clear Japanese mines. They destroyed 23 in the last three days.
The Battle of Singapore - III
Malaya
- Force East - Operational HQ report: "All is quiet."
...
- Main Force - As the weather improves, patrols of the 9th Indian Division find the Japanese of the 27th Division well entrenched across the railroad tracks.
The 11th Indian Division, on the other hand, has lost contact with the enemy on the main road. Its advance is hampered only by trees felled by the Japanese or by the previous day's deluge.
The advance units suffer some losses, however, as the torrents of mud that cut the road sometimes carried mines in the middle of piles of branches and leaves. It seems that the Japanese have largely retreated to Ayer Hitam or even to Kluang.
...
- Western Force - The attack on the western front of Ayer Hitam (from Batu Pahat) is suspended, as all artillery support must be concentrated on the northwest front (from Yong Peng), where the infantry is advancing over a thousand meters wide front. At this point, the Japanese have deployed three companies supported by mortars to cover the northwest approaches of Ayer Hitam on hills overlooking the road, in front of the Sungei Semberang and an area of swamp, brush and jungle. The defenders have good fields of fire, but cannot rely for concealment on the tall grass and ferns that cover the slopes of the hills, as they had been badly degraded by artillery fire.
The attack is resumed in the afternoon. At the end of the day, the weight of the artillery and the numerical superiority of the attackers are felt. The Japanese infantry, which has once again demonstrated its heroic endurance and resolve, withdraws in good order during the night through the marshes. The Japanese still hold the village of Ayer Hitam and its crossroads.
Singapore - Fishing boats and other small vessels are used to clear Japanese mines. They destroyed 23 in the last three days.
4670
June 9th, 1942
Indian Ocean - Since the beginning of Operation D on the East African coast, the five submarines of the 8th Squadron have sunk eight Allied freighters. To the first two, torpedoed on June 5th by the I-9, were added the Susak (3,889 GRT) and the Agios Georgios (4,847 GRT), sunk on 6 and 8 June by the I-16, the Jonestown (5,086 GRT) and the Christos Markettos (5,209 GRT), sunk on 7 and 8 June by I-20, the Wilford (2,158 GRT), sunk on 8 June by the I-18, and finally the King Lud (5,224 GRT), sunk on 8 June by the flagship submarine I-9. The I-30 had to content itself with sinking three sailing ships of a few hundred tons each.
Playing its role as flagship, the I-9 sends a first message to its fellow submarines, intended to distribute them in different patrol zones. During a fortnight, it will send other messages of the same type.
Indian Ocean - Since the beginning of Operation D on the East African coast, the five submarines of the 8th Squadron have sunk eight Allied freighters. To the first two, torpedoed on June 5th by the I-9, were added the Susak (3,889 GRT) and the Agios Georgios (4,847 GRT), sunk on 6 and 8 June by the I-16, the Jonestown (5,086 GRT) and the Christos Markettos (5,209 GRT), sunk on 7 and 8 June by I-20, the Wilford (2,158 GRT), sunk on 8 June by the I-18, and finally the King Lud (5,224 GRT), sunk on 8 June by the flagship submarine I-9. The I-30 had to content itself with sinking three sailing ships of a few hundred tons each.
Playing its role as flagship, the I-9 sends a first message to its fellow submarines, intended to distribute them in different patrol zones. During a fortnight, it will send other messages of the same type.
4672
June 9th, 1942
Nouméa - Joint Staff Conference on the South and Southwest Pacific
For this first official coordination conference between the new South Pacific (SOPAC) and Southwest Pacific (SWPA) Operation Areas, the participants come from a huge area stretching from Australia to Pearl Harbor. On the one hand, Gen. Blamey (Australian Military Forces, SWPA Commander in Chief) and his deputies Admiral Leary (US Navy, commander of the allied naval forces of the SWPA) and Lt-Gen Brett (US Army Air Force, SWPA Allied Air Force Commander), as well as Rear Admiral Crace (Commander of the Royal Navy's Pacific Squadron); on the other hand, Admiral Nimitz (CinCPAC) with Rear Admirals Fletcher and Spruance, and Vice Admiral Ghormley (SOPAC), with his Chief of Staff, Rear Admiral Callaghan, Rear Admiral McCain (Commander, South Pacific Air Force), Major General A.M. Patch (Commander, Americal Division, U.S. Army), Brigadier General DeWitt Peck (USMC, Ghormley's staff) and Rear Admiral Pierre Rouyer (Joint Commander, French Pacific Forces, acting as High Commissioner of the French Pacific Territories).
The most important subject is the possible aftermath of the battle of the Coral Sea. Rear Admiral McCain, who commands the Allied air force in the South Pacific, is alarmed: "The Tenaru airfield, which is under construction on Guadalcanal, could be completed by the Japanese by mid-July. This would give them control of the Solomon Sea and perhaps the possibility of attacking Espiritu Santo or Nouméa with their long-range bombers."
- Not only that", adds General Blamey. "The enemy's previous operations have always been done the same way: take control of an airfield, then make a new push, covered by land-based aircraft. Tenaru would give the Japanese the opportunity to renew their attack towards Port Moresby or to advance southwards.
- That is to say, towards the New Hebrides... and New Caledonia", continues Rear Admiral Pierre Rouyer, concerned. "Would the US Navy be able to counter this?
The Americans Fletcher and Spruance are not enthusiastic: "A battle east of the Solomons would replicate last month's battle, but with a few key facts reversed," comments Spruance, "but under much more unfavorable conditions. The USAAF and RAAF aircraft based in New Guinea and northern Australia could not be able to help us much, while enemy aircraft based in Guadalcanal could do us a lot of harm. If we look at the logistic chain already set up by the Japanese between Truk, Rabaul and the Shortlands, they could not dream of anything better than to confront us in the eastern Solomons once Tenaru airfield is fully operational."
It might seem interesting to wait for the Japanese assault on Nouméa, with good hopes to break it up at sea thanks to the support of the planes based in Nouméa or to crush the land forces once they had landed. But this choice would mean accepting for several months the interruption or extension of the logistics chain linking Australia and the United States.
Yet, as General Blamey reminds us, this chain is absolutely essential, among other things, to ensure the build-up of two of the branches of the triple counter-offensive planned for 1943 from Burma to the southeast, from Australia to the north and in the central Pacific towards the west.
It is therefore strategically necessary to attack Guadalcanal, even under difficult conditions, against already established enemy troops and against a Combined Fleet still five large aircraft carriers strong.
After weighing various proposals, Admiral Nimitz decides to advise Admiral King of the need to launch a preventive offensive in the Solomons to retake Guadalcanal and Tulagi as soon as possible. He asks that everyone begin immediately to prepare for such an operation. "However," he adds, "we must all be well aware that this operation must be carried out without endangering the strengthening of our defenses at Midway and on the French Frigate shoals, and especially without interfering with the preparation of offensive operations in Europe, which has been given top priority."
One of the American officers grumbled: "We will then have to start on a shoe-string!"
........
Lt. General Brett has been mostly silent. It is true that he carries around various blunders committed in his relations with the Australians and that he is not well liked in court in general. This silence does not save him - in July, he is replaced by General Lesley McNair, of the US Army (as for him, after a period of inaction in the United States, he is appointed to a post in the Panama Canal Zone).
Nouméa - Joint Staff Conference on the South and Southwest Pacific
For this first official coordination conference between the new South Pacific (SOPAC) and Southwest Pacific (SWPA) Operation Areas, the participants come from a huge area stretching from Australia to Pearl Harbor. On the one hand, Gen. Blamey (Australian Military Forces, SWPA Commander in Chief) and his deputies Admiral Leary (US Navy, commander of the allied naval forces of the SWPA) and Lt-Gen Brett (US Army Air Force, SWPA Allied Air Force Commander), as well as Rear Admiral Crace (Commander of the Royal Navy's Pacific Squadron); on the other hand, Admiral Nimitz (CinCPAC) with Rear Admirals Fletcher and Spruance, and Vice Admiral Ghormley (SOPAC), with his Chief of Staff, Rear Admiral Callaghan, Rear Admiral McCain (Commander, South Pacific Air Force), Major General A.M. Patch (Commander, Americal Division, U.S. Army), Brigadier General DeWitt Peck (USMC, Ghormley's staff) and Rear Admiral Pierre Rouyer (Joint Commander, French Pacific Forces, acting as High Commissioner of the French Pacific Territories).
The most important subject is the possible aftermath of the battle of the Coral Sea. Rear Admiral McCain, who commands the Allied air force in the South Pacific, is alarmed: "The Tenaru airfield, which is under construction on Guadalcanal, could be completed by the Japanese by mid-July. This would give them control of the Solomon Sea and perhaps the possibility of attacking Espiritu Santo or Nouméa with their long-range bombers."
- Not only that", adds General Blamey. "The enemy's previous operations have always been done the same way: take control of an airfield, then make a new push, covered by land-based aircraft. Tenaru would give the Japanese the opportunity to renew their attack towards Port Moresby or to advance southwards.
- That is to say, towards the New Hebrides... and New Caledonia", continues Rear Admiral Pierre Rouyer, concerned. "Would the US Navy be able to counter this?
The Americans Fletcher and Spruance are not enthusiastic: "A battle east of the Solomons would replicate last month's battle, but with a few key facts reversed," comments Spruance, "but under much more unfavorable conditions. The USAAF and RAAF aircraft based in New Guinea and northern Australia could not be able to help us much, while enemy aircraft based in Guadalcanal could do us a lot of harm. If we look at the logistic chain already set up by the Japanese between Truk, Rabaul and the Shortlands, they could not dream of anything better than to confront us in the eastern Solomons once Tenaru airfield is fully operational."
It might seem interesting to wait for the Japanese assault on Nouméa, with good hopes to break it up at sea thanks to the support of the planes based in Nouméa or to crush the land forces once they had landed. But this choice would mean accepting for several months the interruption or extension of the logistics chain linking Australia and the United States.
Yet, as General Blamey reminds us, this chain is absolutely essential, among other things, to ensure the build-up of two of the branches of the triple counter-offensive planned for 1943 from Burma to the southeast, from Australia to the north and in the central Pacific towards the west.
It is therefore strategically necessary to attack Guadalcanal, even under difficult conditions, against already established enemy troops and against a Combined Fleet still five large aircraft carriers strong.
After weighing various proposals, Admiral Nimitz decides to advise Admiral King of the need to launch a preventive offensive in the Solomons to retake Guadalcanal and Tulagi as soon as possible. He asks that everyone begin immediately to prepare for such an operation. "However," he adds, "we must all be well aware that this operation must be carried out without endangering the strengthening of our defenses at Midway and on the French Frigate shoals, and especially without interfering with the preparation of offensive operations in Europe, which has been given top priority."
One of the American officers grumbled: "We will then have to start on a shoe-string!"
........
Lt. General Brett has been mostly silent. It is true that he carries around various blunders committed in his relations with the Australians and that he is not well liked in court in general. This silence does not save him - in July, he is replaced by General Lesley McNair, of the US Army (as for him, after a period of inaction in the United States, he is appointed to a post in the Panama Canal Zone).
4673
June 9th, 1942
Barbarossa
- Northern sector and Baltic Sea
Liepaja - The Soviet marine infantry counter-attacks. It suffers losses without advancing much, but at the end of the day, the command of Army Group North suspends the Operation Gustav.
...
- Central sector
Tymoshenko comes to Minsk to inform the Boldin staff of the partition of the Belarus Front. Boldin, who had to transfer his headquarters to Gomel, asked most of his officers to stay with Tymoshenko in order to best organize the planned counter-offensive.
...
- Southern sector and Black Sea
The Romanian submarine Delfinul attacks the old destroyers Zheleznzakov and Nezamozhnik (Novik class) off Odessa, but without success. The Delfinul is a victim of the obsolescence of some of some of its equipment, which limits its capabilities. In particular, it takes a long time to dive and it is unable to recharge its batteries when it is in movement.
Barbarossa
- Northern sector and Baltic Sea
Liepaja - The Soviet marine infantry counter-attacks. It suffers losses without advancing much, but at the end of the day, the command of Army Group North suspends the Operation Gustav.
...
- Central sector
Tymoshenko comes to Minsk to inform the Boldin staff of the partition of the Belarus Front. Boldin, who had to transfer his headquarters to Gomel, asked most of his officers to stay with Tymoshenko in order to best organize the planned counter-offensive.
...
- Southern sector and Black Sea
The Romanian submarine Delfinul attacks the old destroyers Zheleznzakov and Nezamozhnik (Novik class) off Odessa, but without success. The Delfinul is a victim of the obsolescence of some of some of its equipment, which limits its capabilities. In particular, it takes a long time to dive and it is unable to recharge its batteries when it is in movement.
4674
June 9th, 1942
Fort Knox - U.S. Armored Force Chief General Jacob Devers announces at a staff conference his decision to accelerate the deployment of the 1st and 2nd Armored Divisions in North Africa. A second training camp is to be established in Morocco.
At this same conference, the lessons of the recent fighting in the Peloponnese are actively discussed. One of the measures taken is the addition of a divisional artillery HQ to each division to facilitate the coordination of the three artillery battalions.
Fort Knox - U.S. Armored Force Chief General Jacob Devers announces at a staff conference his decision to accelerate the deployment of the 1st and 2nd Armored Divisions in North Africa. A second training camp is to be established in Morocco.
At this same conference, the lessons of the recent fighting in the Peloponnese are actively discussed. One of the measures taken is the addition of a divisional artillery HQ to each division to facilitate the coordination of the three artillery battalions.
4676
June 10th, 1942
Plymouth - The convoy that weighs anchor for the Indian Ocean is to be escorted to Trincomalee by the battleship HMS Rodney (freshly repaired after the damage suffered in the South China Sea), the CL Gambia, the CLAA Phoebe and Coventry, the DD Duncan, Foxhound, Hotspur, Inconstant, Onslaught, Quentin, Quiberon, the DD/MS HMS Sabre, Saladin, Sardonyx, Scimitar, Shikari and Skate (six of the eight old S and T class DDs converted into fast minesweepers) and the avisos Flamingo and Pelican.
A few hours earlier, Prime Minister Winston Churchill came in great secrecy "to pay personal tribute to these brave men who are leaving for one of the most daring and dangerous operations in military history."
Plymouth - The convoy that weighs anchor for the Indian Ocean is to be escorted to Trincomalee by the battleship HMS Rodney (freshly repaired after the damage suffered in the South China Sea), the CL Gambia, the CLAA Phoebe and Coventry, the DD Duncan, Foxhound, Hotspur, Inconstant, Onslaught, Quentin, Quiberon, the DD/MS HMS Sabre, Saladin, Sardonyx, Scimitar, Shikari and Skate (six of the eight old S and T class DDs converted into fast minesweepers) and the avisos Flamingo and Pelican.
A few hours earlier, Prime Minister Winston Churchill came in great secrecy "to pay personal tribute to these brave men who are leaving for one of the most daring and dangerous operations in military history."
4677
June 10th, 1942
Kokoda airstrip - The Japanese have a few 70mm mountain guns in action.
They shell the 39th Battalion's rear near the airstrip, and casualties began to mount on the Australian side. Each wounded man on a stretcher requires twelve stretcher bearers, and each walking wounded man needs four people to support him, it quickly becomes necessary to withdraw, because the "Angels" who assist the wounded (the "Fuzzy-Wuzzy Angels", voluntary natives) are not numerous enough.
Kokoda airstrip - The Japanese have a few 70mm mountain guns in action.
They shell the 39th Battalion's rear near the airstrip, and casualties began to mount on the Australian side. Each wounded man on a stretcher requires twelve stretcher bearers, and each walking wounded man needs four people to support him, it quickly becomes necessary to withdraw, because the "Angels" who assist the wounded (the "Fuzzy-Wuzzy Angels", voluntary natives) are not numerous enough.
4678
June 10th, 1942
Truk - Rear Admiral Tanaka is appointed commander of the 1st Japanese Fleet, in charge of operations in the Solomons.
.........
Panama - The battleship North Carolina, in the company of the CA Quincy and Vincennes, the CLAA San Juan and seven destroyers, pass through the Panama Canal and head for the South Pacific.
Benghazi - Twelve DC-3s from GB III/17 take off on a long trip to Colombo and Port Blair. Six each tow a GA Hotspur Ib glider and the others carry 72 men of the 2nd Groupement de Choc of Lt-Colonel d'Astier de la Vigerie. This group represents a reinforced battalion. The other elements will follow by boat.
Truk - Rear Admiral Tanaka is appointed commander of the 1st Japanese Fleet, in charge of operations in the Solomons.
.........
Panama - The battleship North Carolina, in the company of the CA Quincy and Vincennes, the CLAA San Juan and seven destroyers, pass through the Panama Canal and head for the South Pacific.
Benghazi - Twelve DC-3s from GB III/17 take off on a long trip to Colombo and Port Blair. Six each tow a GA Hotspur Ib glider and the others carry 72 men of the 2nd Groupement de Choc of Lt-Colonel d'Astier de la Vigerie. This group represents a reinforced battalion. The other elements will follow by boat.
4679
June 10th, 1942
Barbarossa
- Northern sector and Baltic Sea
Daugavpils (Dunaburg) - Soviet forces begin to probe the German defenses.
Liepaja and Ventspils - German aircraft hit these two ports hard. In Ventspils, they sink the minesweeper T-206 (Tral class).
.........
Rastenburg (Hitler's HQ) - Ciliax and Raeder are subjected for two hours to the Führer's wrath. "The deplorable results of your Kriegsmarine can only remind us of the dismal failure of the Imperial Navy, which has always shown itself incapable of supporting theland forces! At some point I will have to scrap all these useless ships and have their crews transferred to the infantry, at least they would be of some use!" Hitler then goes on to discuss the situation in the Black Sea, which von Ribbentrop had mentioned to him following his meeting with the Romanian deputy prime minister at the beginning of the month. "Furthermore, naval reinforcements must be sent to the Romanians without delay, it is not right that the Red fleet should be able to bomb their ports and their troops with impunity."
This session will have important consequences. On leaving Hitler's headquarters, Raeder, pale with rage, authorizes Ciliax to engage all his naval units to prevent the repetition of what was considered a Soviet success. For his part, the Grand Admiral once again has to scrape the bottom of his drawers to support the Romanian ally this time. Another unpleasant confrontation with Dönitz in prospect...
...
- Central sector
The partition of the former Belorussian Front into two entities is officially announced. The newly created "Center Front" will have its headquarters in Gomel. The limit between this Front and the new Belarus Front is to be an east-west line passing through Zlobin.
...
- Southern sector
Colonel-General A.A. Novikov, commander of the VVS, and Major-General S.A. Khudyakov, his chief of staff, visits Kiev and Zhitomir to inspect the Soviet air units on the Ukrainian Front. The two officers take the opportunity to collect as much first-hand accounts of the first three weeks of the war.
At the end of their visit, Novikov sends a message to Ilyushin's engineers to elaborate as quickly as possible a two-seater variant of the Il-2 for ground attack, because the need of a dorsal gunner on these aircraft is cruelly felt. As a temporary answer to the heavy losses that these very effective aircraft underwent, Novikov and Khudyakov agree to put old I-153 fighters back into service in the Shturmovik regiments. Armed with 82 mm rockets, the I-153s have to escort the Il-2s to silence the light flak. Once their rockets are fired, they have to provide the solid but not very maneuverable bombers a close escort. At very low altitude, the extraordinary agility of the I-153 makes it an aircraft capable of defending itself against Axis fighters.
Barbarossa
- Northern sector and Baltic Sea
Daugavpils (Dunaburg) - Soviet forces begin to probe the German defenses.
Liepaja and Ventspils - German aircraft hit these two ports hard. In Ventspils, they sink the minesweeper T-206 (Tral class).
.........
Rastenburg (Hitler's HQ) - Ciliax and Raeder are subjected for two hours to the Führer's wrath. "The deplorable results of your Kriegsmarine can only remind us of the dismal failure of the Imperial Navy, which has always shown itself incapable of supporting theland forces! At some point I will have to scrap all these useless ships and have their crews transferred to the infantry, at least they would be of some use!" Hitler then goes on to discuss the situation in the Black Sea, which von Ribbentrop had mentioned to him following his meeting with the Romanian deputy prime minister at the beginning of the month. "Furthermore, naval reinforcements must be sent to the Romanians without delay, it is not right that the Red fleet should be able to bomb their ports and their troops with impunity."
This session will have important consequences. On leaving Hitler's headquarters, Raeder, pale with rage, authorizes Ciliax to engage all his naval units to prevent the repetition of what was considered a Soviet success. For his part, the Grand Admiral once again has to scrape the bottom of his drawers to support the Romanian ally this time. Another unpleasant confrontation with Dönitz in prospect...
...
- Central sector
The partition of the former Belorussian Front into two entities is officially announced. The newly created "Center Front" will have its headquarters in Gomel. The limit between this Front and the new Belarus Front is to be an east-west line passing through Zlobin.
...
- Southern sector
Colonel-General A.A. Novikov, commander of the VVS, and Major-General S.A. Khudyakov, his chief of staff, visits Kiev and Zhitomir to inspect the Soviet air units on the Ukrainian Front. The two officers take the opportunity to collect as much first-hand accounts of the first three weeks of the war.
At the end of their visit, Novikov sends a message to Ilyushin's engineers to elaborate as quickly as possible a two-seater variant of the Il-2 for ground attack, because the need of a dorsal gunner on these aircraft is cruelly felt. As a temporary answer to the heavy losses that these very effective aircraft underwent, Novikov and Khudyakov agree to put old I-153 fighters back into service in the Shturmovik regiments. Armed with 82 mm rockets, the I-153s have to escort the Il-2s to silence the light flak. Once their rockets are fired, they have to provide the solid but not very maneuverable bombers a close escort. At very low altitude, the extraordinary agility of the I-153 makes it an aircraft capable of defending itself against Axis fighters.
4680
June 10th, 1942
Strait of Zanthe (Ionian Sea) - Part of the "Pyrgos Flotilla", the Yugoslavian MTBs Kajmakcalan and Suvobor and the French launches VTB-104 and 107 (Higgins type) and VGB-110 and 112 (Fairmile type), will lay mines at the entrance of the Gulf of Corinth to hinder the Axis ships going from Italy to Piraeus. Italian patrol boats take the opportunity to attack them off Zanthe. The VGB-110 is so damaged that it has to be scuttled. The Allies thought they had destroyed two Italian patrol boats, but in reality they actually had suffered only slight damage.
Strait of Zanthe (Ionian Sea) - Part of the "Pyrgos Flotilla", the Yugoslavian MTBs Kajmakcalan and Suvobor and the French launches VTB-104 and 107 (Higgins type) and VGB-110 and 112 (Fairmile type), will lay mines at the entrance of the Gulf of Corinth to hinder the Axis ships going from Italy to Piraeus. Italian patrol boats take the opportunity to attack them off Zanthe. The VGB-110 is so damaged that it has to be scuttled. The Allies thought they had destroyed two Italian patrol boats, but in reality they actually had suffered only slight damage.
4682
June 11th, 1942
Barrow-in-Furness (Great Britain) - The light cruiser Jamaica (Fiji or Crown Colony class) is transferred to the Royal Australian Navy after being renamed HMAS Brisbane. But the Royal Navy is not losing out: after HMS Gambia at the beginning of the year, HMS Bermuda will be ready at the beginning of July and two other "Crown Colony class" ships will be commissioned in the next six months, HMS Newfoundland and HMS Uganda. Finally, a last one, HMS Ceylon, will be available in one year.
Barrow-in-Furness (Great Britain) - The light cruiser Jamaica (Fiji or Crown Colony class) is transferred to the Royal Australian Navy after being renamed HMAS Brisbane. But the Royal Navy is not losing out: after HMS Gambia at the beginning of the year, HMS Bermuda will be ready at the beginning of July and two other "Crown Colony class" ships will be commissioned in the next six months, HMS Newfoundland and HMS Uganda. Finally, a last one, HMS Ceylon, will be available in one year.
4683
June 11th, 1942
Kokoda Track - The 39th stalls during the night and begins a long retreat, fighting all along the Oivi (a tributary of the Kumusi) until the Oivi Pass, 18 km further on. The Oivi, a deep and fast-moving stream, protects the left flank in this backward march, and the battalion repels countless Japanese attacks during the four days of the withdrawal. Meanwhile, a good defensive position is established across the pass, a 1,500 meter wide passage between two steep hills. Beyond, six hundred civilians and wounded are slowly marching toward Kokoda, and the 39th has to face the enemy again to give them time.
Kokoda Track - The 39th stalls during the night and begins a long retreat, fighting all along the Oivi (a tributary of the Kumusi) until the Oivi Pass, 18 km further on. The Oivi, a deep and fast-moving stream, protects the left flank in this backward march, and the battalion repels countless Japanese attacks during the four days of the withdrawal. Meanwhile, a good defensive position is established across the pass, a 1,500 meter wide passage between two steep hills. Beyond, six hundred civilians and wounded are slowly marching toward Kokoda, and the 39th has to face the enemy again to give them time.
- Status