Yeah even with gun cameras claims were double or triple actual losses even during the Korean War
Flattops and Flyboys: The Carrier War in the Pacific 1942-44
- Thread starter galveston bay
- Start date
Yeah even with gun cameras claims were double or triple actual losses even during the Korean War
Excellently written, the whole TL (across all the threads). I am really enjoying it.
One question though, I thought Admiral Goto died in the attempted shelling of Midway?
One question though, I thought Admiral Goto died in the attempted shelling of Midway?
nbcman
Donor
There were two (at least) Admiral Gotos in the IJN.
Admiral Aritomo Goto died at the Battle of Kure Atoll according to this post
Admiral Eiji Goto was the commander of the 24th Air Flotilla from late 1941 until September 1942 when he was relieved of duty IOTL.
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as above.. there is a Black Shoe Admiral Goto (now deceased) and a Brown Shoe Admiral Goto (who is a bit concerned about his air strength at the moment)
The Battle of Kwajalein
American strikes
Soon after the last Japanese aircraft flies off, Spruance cancels the planned strike on Majuro and directs the fleet to increase speed to 30 knots to close as rapidly as possible with Kwajalein. By 1700 hours, even as the Japanese are frantically repairing their aircraft that were down for maintenance reasons or repairing damaged aircraft, the Americans launch 48 Dauntless armed with 500 pound high explosive bombs and 32 Wildcats with the objective of hitting the Japanese airfield. Sherman retains 24 Wildcats, with 4 to remain in the air at all times, as a combat air patrol The remaining SBDs are retained for antisubmarine patrol for the fleet, and 1800 hours they spot the submarine I-73, which hurriedly submerges but smoke bombs mark her position and aggressive work by the destroyers Jarvis and Bagley force her to the surface and finish her with shellfire just before dusk.
The Japanese have an air patrol of only 6 Claude fighters in the air when the Americans arrives at 1900 hours, only 20 minutes before dusk. The Japanese aircraft are lined up on the ramp or in hangers, and none of the remaining 19 Claude fighters, 18 Nell bombers, 12 floatplanes and 12 various transport aircraft are ready to take off. Half of the American fighters slaughter the Japanese fighters, while the rest take position to catch anyone take off, while the American bombers plaster the ramp and hangers. Strafing follows as American dive bombers and fighters sweep across the field for 15 minutes. None of the Japanese aircraft are airworthy by the time the strike ends, with over half destroyed and the rest damaged beyond quick repair. Japanese personnel losses are relatively light, only a few dozen killed and a few score wounded, but the airfield is effectively knocked out of action and with it most of the 24th Air Flotilla.
Meanwhile the American aircraft fly home in darkness, and there are concerns about their return. Sherman and Spruance both had discussed the issue and although Sherman is willing to accept the inevitable losses from a night recovery, Spruance decides he needs every pilot and aircraft and with the knowledge that the Japanese submarines have failed thus far to successfully attack, he orders the fleet to turn on its lights until the last aircraft is recovered. A Japanese submarine indeed spots the Americans, but by the time it can approach the Task Force 16 due to the differences in speed the Americans have completed their recovery and executed a radical high speed course change that takes it to far away to catch.
In all the Americans lose 2 Wildcats and 1 Dauntless over Kwajalein, another 2 dive bombers and 2 fighters ditch due to battle damage (and 4 aircrew are recovered the next day by the USS Gudgeon (Tambor class submarine) and 6 fighters and 11 dive bombers are forced to ditch or wreck during recovery (9 aircrew lost at sea or killed, another 8 injured). Although the first day of fighting has cost Task Force 16 almost a quarter of its aircraft, Spruance and Sherman feel that a followup strike for the next day is called for, as the strike reports indicate that a sizable number of Japanese combat and other ships are anchored in the harbor of the huge atoll.
Admiral Kajioka has a very difficult problem however. He lacks fighter cover and his force is hopelessly too slow to escape the American fleet should it chase him which he views as certain. He has his fleet scatter about the lagoon (over 800 square miles) with escorts and transports paired up to provide support. Every available AA gun is moved to cover the lagoon as well, and the Navy troops spend the night trying to get the airfield runway repaired. The Japanese also offload all of the passengers from the ships to prevent unnecessary losses.
The Americans come back into strike range just before dawn, having spent the night steaming in an evasive pattern to avoid Japanese submarines, and launch 32 SBDs and 16 Wildcats at first light. The Americans arrive at their target just over 2 hours later and it quickly becomes apparent that there is no Japanese fighter cover. Taking advantage of this, the fighters are sent in to strafe and provide flak suppression, while the dive bombers line up their targets. Lieutenant Commander Wade McClusky, the strike commander, decides to concentrate dive bombers on the slower moving seaplane tender Kiyokawa Maru (6,800 tons, its 12 aircraft wrecked the previous day) and the 8,000 ton transports Kaijo Maru and Kongo Maru. American bombing is mediocre, but all three are hit and left burning, with fires aboard the Kongo Maru causing her to explode while fires in the fuel storage tanks aboard the Kiyokawa Maru leave her burning from end to end and abandoned within minutes of being hit. The Kaijo Maru is sinking and is beached at Enubuj island, one of the smaller islands of the atoll. Japanese flak fails to shoot down any of the American aircraft, but 5 Wildcats and 2 SBDs are damaged severely enough to ditch on the way home, with 5 of their aircrew rescued by American floatplanes. Another 5 aircraft are write offs after recovery.
Japanese revenge
Spruance and Sherman are discussing launching another strike and sending the heavy cruisers in to conduct a bombardment when the I17, after many hours of trying to regain contact with the American fleet manages a firing solution and sends 6 torpedoes into the formation around the Enterprise. The Enterprise is saved by alert lookouts and excellent ship-handling but the heavy cruiser Portland is less fortunate, as two of the torpedoes hit her amidships, wiping out her engineering spaces (and many of the crewmen in them) and leaving her sinking. She goes down in 14 minutes, taking 312 men with her and leaving over 900 men in the water to be picked up by destroyers. Aggressive counterattacks by American bombers and destroyers force the I17 away, but she escapes unscathed.
Sobered by the abrupt loss of a major warship, Spruance orders a retirement once the survivors are rescued and by nightfall the Americans are in full retreat south toward the Gilbert Islands (still in Allied hands, although still undefended).
In all the Raid on the Marshal Islands has cost the Americans one heavy cruiser, over 50 aircraft, and over 300 sailors and airmen lost. In exchange the Japanese have suffered serious damage to their base at Kwajalein, 2 submarines sunk, the 24th Air Flotilla is wrecked and unfit for action, and 3 important support ships lost. Unknown to the Americans is that the planned invasion of the Gilbert Islands has to be postponed as the bulk of the assigned sealift has been sunk. Although the loss was higher than expected, the US Navy considers the action valuable experience earned, albeit painfully.
The USS Portland in better days
(source: http://www.navsource.org/archives/04/033/04033.htm)
Soon after the last Japanese aircraft flies off, Spruance cancels the planned strike on Majuro and directs the fleet to increase speed to 30 knots to close as rapidly as possible with Kwajalein. By 1700 hours, even as the Japanese are frantically repairing their aircraft that were down for maintenance reasons or repairing damaged aircraft, the Americans launch 48 Dauntless armed with 500 pound high explosive bombs and 32 Wildcats with the objective of hitting the Japanese airfield. Sherman retains 24 Wildcats, with 4 to remain in the air at all times, as a combat air patrol The remaining SBDs are retained for antisubmarine patrol for the fleet, and 1800 hours they spot the submarine I-73, which hurriedly submerges but smoke bombs mark her position and aggressive work by the destroyers Jarvis and Bagley force her to the surface and finish her with shellfire just before dusk.
The Japanese have an air patrol of only 6 Claude fighters in the air when the Americans arrives at 1900 hours, only 20 minutes before dusk. The Japanese aircraft are lined up on the ramp or in hangers, and none of the remaining 19 Claude fighters, 18 Nell bombers, 12 floatplanes and 12 various transport aircraft are ready to take off. Half of the American fighters slaughter the Japanese fighters, while the rest take position to catch anyone take off, while the American bombers plaster the ramp and hangers. Strafing follows as American dive bombers and fighters sweep across the field for 15 minutes. None of the Japanese aircraft are airworthy by the time the strike ends, with over half destroyed and the rest damaged beyond quick repair. Japanese personnel losses are relatively light, only a few dozen killed and a few score wounded, but the airfield is effectively knocked out of action and with it most of the 24th Air Flotilla.
Meanwhile the American aircraft fly home in darkness, and there are concerns about their return. Sherman and Spruance both had discussed the issue and although Sherman is willing to accept the inevitable losses from a night recovery, Spruance decides he needs every pilot and aircraft and with the knowledge that the Japanese submarines have failed thus far to successfully attack, he orders the fleet to turn on its lights until the last aircraft is recovered. A Japanese submarine indeed spots the Americans, but by the time it can approach the Task Force 16 due to the differences in speed the Americans have completed their recovery and executed a radical high speed course change that takes it to far away to catch.
In all the Americans lose 2 Wildcats and 1 Dauntless over Kwajalein, another 2 dive bombers and 2 fighters ditch due to battle damage (and 4 aircrew are recovered the next day by the USS Gudgeon (Tambor class submarine) and 6 fighters and 11 dive bombers are forced to ditch or wreck during recovery (9 aircrew lost at sea or killed, another 8 injured). Although the first day of fighting has cost Task Force 16 almost a quarter of its aircraft, Spruance and Sherman feel that a followup strike for the next day is called for, as the strike reports indicate that a sizable number of Japanese combat and other ships are anchored in the harbor of the huge atoll.
Admiral Kajioka has a very difficult problem however. He lacks fighter cover and his force is hopelessly too slow to escape the American fleet should it chase him which he views as certain. He has his fleet scatter about the lagoon (over 800 square miles) with escorts and transports paired up to provide support. Every available AA gun is moved to cover the lagoon as well, and the Navy troops spend the night trying to get the airfield runway repaired. The Japanese also offload all of the passengers from the ships to prevent unnecessary losses.
The Americans come back into strike range just before dawn, having spent the night steaming in an evasive pattern to avoid Japanese submarines, and launch 32 SBDs and 16 Wildcats at first light. The Americans arrive at their target just over 2 hours later and it quickly becomes apparent that there is no Japanese fighter cover. Taking advantage of this, the fighters are sent in to strafe and provide flak suppression, while the dive bombers line up their targets. Lieutenant Commander Wade McClusky, the strike commander, decides to concentrate dive bombers on the slower moving seaplane tender Kiyokawa Maru (6,800 tons, its 12 aircraft wrecked the previous day) and the 8,000 ton transports Kaijo Maru and Kongo Maru. American bombing is mediocre, but all three are hit and left burning, with fires aboard the Kongo Maru causing her to explode while fires in the fuel storage tanks aboard the Kiyokawa Maru leave her burning from end to end and abandoned within minutes of being hit. The Kaijo Maru is sinking and is beached at Enubuj island, one of the smaller islands of the atoll. Japanese flak fails to shoot down any of the American aircraft, but 5 Wildcats and 2 SBDs are damaged severely enough to ditch on the way home, with 5 of their aircrew rescued by American floatplanes. Another 5 aircraft are write offs after recovery.
Japanese revenge
Spruance and Sherman are discussing launching another strike and sending the heavy cruisers in to conduct a bombardment when the I17, after many hours of trying to regain contact with the American fleet manages a firing solution and sends 6 torpedoes into the formation around the Enterprise. The Enterprise is saved by alert lookouts and excellent ship-handling but the heavy cruiser Portland is less fortunate, as two of the torpedoes hit her amidships, wiping out her engineering spaces (and many of the crewmen in them) and leaving her sinking. She goes down in 14 minutes, taking 312 men with her and leaving over 900 men in the water to be picked up by destroyers. Aggressive counterattacks by American bombers and destroyers force the I17 away, but she escapes unscathed.
Sobered by the abrupt loss of a major warship, Spruance orders a retirement once the survivors are rescued and by nightfall the Americans are in full retreat south toward the Gilbert Islands (still in Allied hands, although still undefended).
In all the Raid on the Marshal Islands has cost the Americans one heavy cruiser, over 50 aircraft, and over 300 sailors and airmen lost. In exchange the Japanese have suffered serious damage to their base at Kwajalein, 2 submarines sunk, the 24th Air Flotilla is wrecked and unfit for action, and 3 important support ships lost. Unknown to the Americans is that the planned invasion of the Gilbert Islands has to be postponed as the bulk of the assigned sealift has been sunk. Although the loss was higher than expected, the US Navy considers the action valuable experience earned, albeit painfully.
The USS Portland in better days
(source: http://www.navsource.org/archives/04/033/04033.htm)
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authors notes: First getting back into the swing of things, and finally finished outlining everything (a lot is happening at once in the Pacific and East Asia)
The loss of the CA Portland based on the loss of the CA Indianapolis. When the Japanese submarines managed to score, they often scored big.
American bombing accuracy based on their accuracy at Midway, Coral Sea and the historical Marshal Island raids. These pilots have combat experience going in however from the Battle of Midway (December 10) where they wiped out the Japanese transport force. The 3 old Japanese light cruisers were considered of less value compared to the large support ships present, which Spruance thought might be up to something.
The failure to seize the Gilbert Islands in December 1941 (those forces went to Guam, while the Guam force went to its doom at Midway in December) will have consequences.
The loss of the CA Portland based on the loss of the CA Indianapolis. When the Japanese submarines managed to score, they often scored big.
American bombing accuracy based on their accuracy at Midway, Coral Sea and the historical Marshal Island raids. These pilots have combat experience going in however from the Battle of Midway (December 10) where they wiped out the Japanese transport force. The 3 old Japanese light cruisers were considered of less value compared to the large support ships present, which Spruance thought might be up to something.
The failure to seize the Gilbert Islands in December 1941 (those forces went to Guam, while the Guam force went to its doom at Midway in December) will have consequences.
thanks for the kind words everyone, they are always appreciated
No pain, no gain, one could say about the raid. Well, better to loose a heavy cruiser than a carrier.
Barry Bull
Donor
The raid reads like the OTL 1943 raid of Rabaul, but 1 year earlier and at a different location. The effects does look similar though, naturalizing threats to the nearby islands.
more to come on the US and Japanese carriers.. hopefully this weekend after my eyes adjust to my new glasses
Timeline of the Pacific War and associated events February - March 1942
Timeline of the Pacific War February – March 1942
February 1942
February 12
The last of 60,000 Australian, British, and Indian soldiers, sailors, and airmen are evacuated from Singapore, along with over 20,000 Allied civilians. Japanese air attacks on the evacuation fleet sink the battleships Revenge and Royal Sovereign and the light cruiser Durban but by doing ignore the evacuation ships. In the Philippines the siege of Bataan enters a lull for the next few weeks.
February 17
The surviving 12,000 British Imperial garrison of Singapore surrenders bringing an end to the Malaya Campaign. British losses are 54,000 total for the campaign, with Japanese losses approaching 20,000 for the campaign, with the heaviest losses in the final days of fighting. That same day the Japanese invade Sumatra.
February 18
The Japanese Supreme War Council orders the Imperial Army and Navy to plan operations that will bring the Allies to the peace table. There is considerable friction between the two services, with both having suffered some embarrassment over the last few months. The Luzon operation and heavier than expected casualties at the Midway operation (where an entire brigade loaned to the Navy was effectively destroyed there and seizing Wake Island) and at Singapore, where in the view of the Army the Navy was lax in preventing the evacuation of British forces as well as a British naval attack that inflicted serious losses on forces commanded by Yamashita and delayed the fall of the city by almost a week. The Navy also has the embarrassment of Midway and the heavier than expected losses to Allied warships and aircraft at Hawaii, the Philippines and the South China Sea and thus is in an overall weaker position when it comes to pushing its strategy.
February 22
A devastating series of air raids finishes off British fighter protection of Rangoon and kills tens of thousands of civilians, starting a panicked flight from the city. In the Central Pacific, the American Pacific Fleet battles Japanese air and naval forces in the Raid on the Marshal Islands.
February 28
With Rangoon in ruins and under daily air attack, General Alexander orders a full scale retreat. Japanese forces however are still days away, delayed by poor roads and sacrificial efforts of the Indian 17th Division. In the Mediterranean, intense attacks on Malta whittle away the air defenses there, forcing the cancellation of plans to send 2 British carriers to the Indian Ocean as they are needed to cover the “Cub Runs” to that deliver aircraft to that besieged island. Admiral Phillips and his Force Z are ordered to avoid combat with superior Japanese forces and his primary mission is to cover the sea lanes between South Africa and the vital ports of Bombay, Karachi, Aden and Suez.
March 1942
March 2
Overwhelming Japanese air and naval forces cover the invasion of Java, as well as landings in Bali and Timor. General Eisenhower returns to Australia from Washington DC and sets up his headquarters at Brisbane. Reinforcements continue to flow into the South Pacific from the United States, while 3 Australian divisions (6th, 7th, 8th) continue their return to Australia, leaving on the New Zealand 2nd Division and Australian 9th Division still in the Middle East (where they will remain for several more months).
March 7
The final air evacuation of Java by American and Australian transport aircraft bring out 12,000 Allied military and civilian personnel, including a large number of Dutch civilians but comes to a halt after powerful air strike on Tjilitap destroys half of the air transport aircraft. In Burma, Japanese forces enter Rangoon.
March 11
British and Indian forces prepare to make a stand in central Burma. The Chinese are persuaded by General Brereton, the newly appointed commander of American forces in the China/Burma/India Theater, to send troops to help the British, as the Burma Road is vital for the Chinese.
March 12
General Chennault arrives in China and begins the initial organization of what will eventually become the US 14th Air Force and a new iteration of the Nationalist Chinese Air Force. The US 10th Air Force is formed in India (with Brereton wearing a dual hat as commander of the 10th Air Force). Neither of these organizations will have significant units assigned to them until the summer of 1942. Meanwhile the last organized Dutch resistance in Java and the remainder of the Dutch East Indies comes to an end after a formal surrender. \
March 19
The 10 day battle of Toungoo in Burma begins. The Japanese find the Nationalist Chinese troops to be tough opponents and the battle will result in 2,000 Chinese and 5,000 Japanese casualties but the Chinese will be forced out of their positions which unhinges the entire Allied position in Burma.
March 21
Final authorization is given for the planned strike on Japan by Colonel Doolittle and Vice Admiral (newly promoted) Raymond Spruance.
Meanwhile the Japanese Supreme War Council approves Operation RO, a series of operations aimed at isolating and then securing Rabaul, which will include the seizure of the Gilbert and Solomon Islands, Naura and Ocean islands, and eastern New Guinea including Port Moresby. Once this operation is concluded, Operation M will be conducted to isolate Australia from the North American West Coast by seizing Fiji, Samoa and the New Hebrides as well as New Caledonia. The Army is to provide the 8th Area Army, consisting of the 16th and 17th Armies and 6 divisions total to support these operations, with remaining landing forces and base forces to be provided by the Navy. The Navy expects to meet, engage, and destroy the US Pacific Fleet during these operations as Australia is certainly vital to American plans. An operation to seize bases in the Aleutians to secure the Kuriles and Hokkaido is also approved.
The Imperial Army will consolidate its control over the Philippines, East Indies and Burma, and conduct a major offensive later in the year against the Chinese to establish a land route from Indochina to Northern China, as well as critically weaken the Nationalist Chinese and bring them to the table now that the supply route of foreign aid to China from the Allies has been cut off. Once this is accomplished, a peace offer will be made to the Nationalist Chinese.
Also in the late winter of 1942.
In the Atlantic, German U-Boats sink 168 Allied merchant ships between January 1 and March 30, 1942 or nearly 850,000 tons of shipping. This is called the "Second Happy Time" by the Uboat sailors. Every available escort ship is needed for the Atlantic, which are in serious shortage due to competing demands in the combat theaters of the Pacific, Indian Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, and Murmansk run.
The Germans are preparing for a major offensive in the Eastern Front, called Fall Blau.
In North Africa, the Axis under Rommel and the British under Ritchie continue to refit and build up for further operations. The Germans and Italy plan Operation Hercules, a combined airborne and amphibious assault on Malta. The British plan Operation Ironclad, the seizure of Madagascar, for April as there are concerns that the Vichy French will allow German and Japanese submarines to use it as a base.
February 1942
February 12
The last of 60,000 Australian, British, and Indian soldiers, sailors, and airmen are evacuated from Singapore, along with over 20,000 Allied civilians. Japanese air attacks on the evacuation fleet sink the battleships Revenge and Royal Sovereign and the light cruiser Durban but by doing ignore the evacuation ships. In the Philippines the siege of Bataan enters a lull for the next few weeks.
February 17
The surviving 12,000 British Imperial garrison of Singapore surrenders bringing an end to the Malaya Campaign. British losses are 54,000 total for the campaign, with Japanese losses approaching 20,000 for the campaign, with the heaviest losses in the final days of fighting. That same day the Japanese invade Sumatra.
February 18
The Japanese Supreme War Council orders the Imperial Army and Navy to plan operations that will bring the Allies to the peace table. There is considerable friction between the two services, with both having suffered some embarrassment over the last few months. The Luzon operation and heavier than expected casualties at the Midway operation (where an entire brigade loaned to the Navy was effectively destroyed there and seizing Wake Island) and at Singapore, where in the view of the Army the Navy was lax in preventing the evacuation of British forces as well as a British naval attack that inflicted serious losses on forces commanded by Yamashita and delayed the fall of the city by almost a week. The Navy also has the embarrassment of Midway and the heavier than expected losses to Allied warships and aircraft at Hawaii, the Philippines and the South China Sea and thus is in an overall weaker position when it comes to pushing its strategy.
February 22
A devastating series of air raids finishes off British fighter protection of Rangoon and kills tens of thousands of civilians, starting a panicked flight from the city. In the Central Pacific, the American Pacific Fleet battles Japanese air and naval forces in the Raid on the Marshal Islands.
February 28
With Rangoon in ruins and under daily air attack, General Alexander orders a full scale retreat. Japanese forces however are still days away, delayed by poor roads and sacrificial efforts of the Indian 17th Division. In the Mediterranean, intense attacks on Malta whittle away the air defenses there, forcing the cancellation of plans to send 2 British carriers to the Indian Ocean as they are needed to cover the “Cub Runs” to that deliver aircraft to that besieged island. Admiral Phillips and his Force Z are ordered to avoid combat with superior Japanese forces and his primary mission is to cover the sea lanes between South Africa and the vital ports of Bombay, Karachi, Aden and Suez.
March 1942
March 2
Overwhelming Japanese air and naval forces cover the invasion of Java, as well as landings in Bali and Timor. General Eisenhower returns to Australia from Washington DC and sets up his headquarters at Brisbane. Reinforcements continue to flow into the South Pacific from the United States, while 3 Australian divisions (6th, 7th, 8th) continue their return to Australia, leaving on the New Zealand 2nd Division and Australian 9th Division still in the Middle East (where they will remain for several more months).
March 7
The final air evacuation of Java by American and Australian transport aircraft bring out 12,000 Allied military and civilian personnel, including a large number of Dutch civilians but comes to a halt after powerful air strike on Tjilitap destroys half of the air transport aircraft. In Burma, Japanese forces enter Rangoon.
March 11
British and Indian forces prepare to make a stand in central Burma. The Chinese are persuaded by General Brereton, the newly appointed commander of American forces in the China/Burma/India Theater, to send troops to help the British, as the Burma Road is vital for the Chinese.
March 12
General Chennault arrives in China and begins the initial organization of what will eventually become the US 14th Air Force and a new iteration of the Nationalist Chinese Air Force. The US 10th Air Force is formed in India (with Brereton wearing a dual hat as commander of the 10th Air Force). Neither of these organizations will have significant units assigned to them until the summer of 1942. Meanwhile the last organized Dutch resistance in Java and the remainder of the Dutch East Indies comes to an end after a formal surrender. \
March 19
The 10 day battle of Toungoo in Burma begins. The Japanese find the Nationalist Chinese troops to be tough opponents and the battle will result in 2,000 Chinese and 5,000 Japanese casualties but the Chinese will be forced out of their positions which unhinges the entire Allied position in Burma.
March 21
Final authorization is given for the planned strike on Japan by Colonel Doolittle and Vice Admiral (newly promoted) Raymond Spruance.
Meanwhile the Japanese Supreme War Council approves Operation RO, a series of operations aimed at isolating and then securing Rabaul, which will include the seizure of the Gilbert and Solomon Islands, Naura and Ocean islands, and eastern New Guinea including Port Moresby. Once this operation is concluded, Operation M will be conducted to isolate Australia from the North American West Coast by seizing Fiji, Samoa and the New Hebrides as well as New Caledonia. The Army is to provide the 8th Area Army, consisting of the 16th and 17th Armies and 6 divisions total to support these operations, with remaining landing forces and base forces to be provided by the Navy. The Navy expects to meet, engage, and destroy the US Pacific Fleet during these operations as Australia is certainly vital to American plans. An operation to seize bases in the Aleutians to secure the Kuriles and Hokkaido is also approved.
The Imperial Army will consolidate its control over the Philippines, East Indies and Burma, and conduct a major offensive later in the year against the Chinese to establish a land route from Indochina to Northern China, as well as critically weaken the Nationalist Chinese and bring them to the table now that the supply route of foreign aid to China from the Allies has been cut off. Once this is accomplished, a peace offer will be made to the Nationalist Chinese.
Also in the late winter of 1942.
In the Atlantic, German U-Boats sink 168 Allied merchant ships between January 1 and March 30, 1942 or nearly 850,000 tons of shipping. This is called the "Second Happy Time" by the Uboat sailors. Every available escort ship is needed for the Atlantic, which are in serious shortage due to competing demands in the combat theaters of the Pacific, Indian Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, and Murmansk run.
The Germans are preparing for a major offensive in the Eastern Front, called Fall Blau.
In North Africa, the Axis under Rommel and the British under Ritchie continue to refit and build up for further operations. The Germans and Italy plan Operation Hercules, a combined airborne and amphibious assault on Malta. The British plan Operation Ironclad, the seizure of Madagascar, for April as there are concerns that the Vichy French will allow German and Japanese submarines to use it as a base.
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