Sir John Valentine Carden Survives. Part 2.

23 January 1942. Batavia, Java.
23 January 1942. Batavia, Java.

General Auchinleck’s appointment as Supreme Commander of ABDA (American, British, Dutch, Australian) forces had finally been agreed after a great deal of negotiation. Auchinleck in particular, had been keen to make sure that the job was clear about what the various battles going on against the Japanese would have some kind of overall direction, without interfering in each country’s own position. This was a fine balancing act, which would be difficult to get right.

The Americans had withdrawn to their final defensive line on the Bataan Peninsula where they continued to resist the Japanese invasion of the Philippines. The problem was that, in Auchinleck’s view, they had conceded the rest of the islands to the Japanese. Of particular concern was Davao, which now seemed to be a base for Japanese aggression. The Asiatic Fleet of the United States Navy seemed to have lost their overall strategic visions having been chased out of the Philippines. They were working with the Dutch, but not decisively, their submarine force in particular seemed to be underperforming.

The British position in Malaya was holding, though under pressure. There were enough reinforcements being rushed to Burma and Singapore, giving Auchinleck some confidence in the position there. The Royal Navy were split between protecting the convoys of reinforcements, and Admiral Phillip’s Force Z which was hoping to deal a blow to the Japanese in the Makassar Strait.

The Dutch were resisting in Borneo and Celebes, though the loss of Tarakan and Manado had given the Japanese airfields to cover their advance. The Dutch Koninklijke Marine had been doing a reasonable job, especially the submarine force, but Admiral Conrad Helfrich and the American Admiral Thomas Hart didn’t seem to see eye to eye about the best way to cooperate.

The Dutch were going all out to support Phillip’s Force Z, and the Americans were concentrating to the east of Celebes in the Banda Sea. To increase a sense of comradeship, it had been agreed with the Australian and New Zealand governments that two light cruisers (HMAS Perth and HMNZS Achilles) and two destroyers (HMAS Vampire and Voyager) would be assigned to the American Task Force 5 (USS Houston, Marblehead and Boise, along with eight USN destroyers). The rest of the Royal Australian Navy, along with the New Zealanders, were doing their best to maintain the open sea lanes back towards America.

The Australian force in Rabual had reported strong attacks from carrier based aircraft and that all of their own fighters and bombers were either destroyed or withdrawn. Radio communications were patchy, but the recent messages were reporting Japanese invasion forces being resisted.

Auchinleck had accepted his role knowing full well that each of the countries would be focussed on their own particular problems, and with the exception of the navies, would be unable to really collaborate. The thing that Auchinleck had noted from each and every battle was the overwhelming power exercised by the Japanese Army and Navy air forces. The destruction wraught at Pearl Harbour now seemed to be falling on Rabaul. The American Volunteer Group in Rangoon were, so far, the only fighter group that seemed to be capable of taking on and defeating the Japanese fighters and bombers. The arrival of Hurricanes and Tomahawks at Singapore might have the same effect, but it remained to be seen if the RAF pilots would take on board the lessons the AFG were offering.

There was a growing American Army Air Corps presence, mostly aircraft and pilots that were meant to be defending the Philippines. As these reinforcements had arrived too late, the bombers and fighters could play an important role, if only they could be concentrated and properly integrated. The obvious place was alongside the Dutch ML-KNIL. Auchinleck had spent a good hour with the various air force commanders. Air Marshall Richard Pierse was to be in overall command of ABDA Air, having lost his job as AOC-in-C Bomber Command, but wasn’t yet arrived in the Far East. Pierse’s American deputy, Major-General Lewis Brereton was the one Auchinleck really wanted to convince of the need for closer cooperation. Even although he was now out from under the command of Douglas MacArthur, Brereton was still sore from losing most of his bomber force on the ground on the first day of the war with Japan. To Auchinleck’s delight his own deputy, Maj. Gen. George H. Brett (USAAF) was fully on board with this plan and was keen to support Auchinleck’s proposals.

Lieutenant-General Ludolph van Oyen, C-in-C ML-KNIL, had witnessed first hand the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour. He and Brereton had much in common. Both the USAAF and ML-KNIL were short of everything, and desperate to stop the Japanese. Auchinleck had the difficult task to try to get the two men to get past their natural inclination to think first of their own needs, and somehow to work together to create not only a unified command, but a real collaboration.

The basis for this had been established to some degree by the reconnaissance units. Kapitein ter Zee G. G. Bozuwa of Marineluchtvaartdienst (MLD) had been working well with the other operators of the PBY equipped squadrons including USN Patrol Wing 10 and No. 205 Squadron RAF. These most valuable assets had been covering various areas, but reporting back to Bozuwa as well as their own chain of command. Bozuwa’s staff were therefore in a position to update everyone’s intelligence sections about Japanese shipping movements.

Auchinleck had Brereton and van Oyen meet together, along with Brett, to see if some kind of deal could be hashed out. General Marshall had informed Brereton by radio it was the War Department's fixed policy to seek the enemy's defeat by a unified effort under the leadership of General Auchinleck. Brereton's mission, as Marshall succinctly added, was to execute the orders issued by Auchinleck.

The Dutch had prepared numerous airdromes on Java, with seven military fields and three commercial airports as well as a considerable number of emergency landing fields well distributed across the countryside. The Dutch had also constructed modern airfields on Sumatra, Borneo, Celebes, and Amboina, and suitable at least for use by pursuit planes were the fields on Timor, Soemba, and Bali. But the government of the Netherlands East Indies lacked a modern air force. In January 1942 its approximately 150 planes were obsolescent. The only real hope were the reinforcements coming to the USAAF.

So far, Brereton had command of 18 P40s, fifty-two A24s (delivered to Australia) and fourteen B17s (escaped from the Philippines). 180 pursuit planes (P40s), with crews had now arrived in Australia, and another complete pursuit group with 80 planes had left San Diego on 10 January. 20 B-17's and 6 LB-30's had arrived by the South Pacific route, an additional 45 B-17's and 9 LB-30's were to follow.

This was going to be a formidable force, but Brereton rightly noted that throwing aircraft into battle, without a chance to properly prepare the aircraft and train the pilots was a recipe for disaster. Brereton wanted time to for his force to be combat ready. Van Oyen was seeing his ML-KNIL force being ground down far too quickly. He was desperate for American assistance. Auchinleck, knowing that the RAF were struggling with the same problems in Burma and Malaya could well appreciate the position of both men.

To add to the mix, Air Commodore Del Wilson, the senior RAAF officer had briefed Brett noting that nearly all the effective RAAF squadrons were defending Singapore, and he had almost nothing at home to protect Northern Australia. As had just become clear at Rabual, a few Wirraway trainers were no match for the Japanese aircraft. Wilson also wanted the American build up to happen in Australia, where they could be used in its defence.

The final agreement was for the American Army Air Forces reinforcements to concentrate on the eastern side of the Dutch East Indies, as Australia was becoming the main operating base from which the Americans would have their logistical support structure in place. The current pursuit and bomber aircraft already in place would concentrate on Java from where the bombers would be able to operate over the wider area, and the P40s protect the island itself. Nobody was entirely happy with this outcome, but Auchinleck knew that the concentration of American forces at Darwin would become crucial in the next phase of operations.

Regarding troops on the ground, some American and British army units were on Borneo and Celebes supporting the KNIL, but otherwise there was no real abililty to project power. The job of the allies would be to upset the Japanese plans as far as possible, and then, figure out how to knock them back.

With Admiral Phillips’ Force Z the only real force in the area, it would fall to him in HMS Nelson, with HMS Warspite, HMS Ark Royal, and the various British and Dutch cruisers and destroyers to try to upset the Japanese plans. The Dutch had spotted a Japanese fleet of transports and escorts sailing south from Tarakan, expected to arrive off Balikpapan during the night. The weather was poor, but the Dutch had collected as many bombers and fighters as possible, along with a couple of submarines to attempt to harry the Japanese, allowing Force Z to close with them and, if their luck held, put them to the sword.
 
You know back when I lurked more around places I was always curious how the war would have changed with Allan providing intel and angles of development.
It was tempting, but I was totally immersed in Ship Shape and Bristol Fashion. I can't remember now exactly what was on my Kindle that summer, but there were a good number of history of WW2 books, including some of the Official Histories. One of the questions I would have had to face would be how to recharge the kindle without breaking it!
I've never been terribly keen on Self Insert stories, but a reasonable intelligence group would have enough info to make some decent changes to make things slightly less bad in 1941/1942. Just the info, as mentioned in the discussion here, about Rommel's reading the British radio traffic could have helped. If I remember correctly one of the books I used for writing the story was the official history which is here. The next chapter after Crete is Operation Crusader, I believe, with the knowledge of what should have happened, there was the possibility of it being more successful, which would have all the butterflies that this timeline is making the most of.
Allan
 
It was tempting, but I was totally immersed in Ship Shape and Bristol Fashion. I can't remember now exactly what was on my Kindle that summer, but there were a good number of history of WW2 books, including some of the Official Histories. One of the questions I would have had to face would be how to recharge the kindle without breaking it!
I've never been terribly keen on Self Insert stories, but a reasonable intelligence group would have enough info to make some decent changes to make things slightly less bad in 1941/1942. Just the info, as mentioned in the discussion here, about Rommel's reading the British radio traffic could have helped. If I remember correctly one of the books I used for writing the story was the official history which is here. The next chapter after Crete is Operation Crusader, I believe, with the knowledge of what should have happened, there was the possibility of it being more successful, which would have all the butterflies that this timeline is making the most of.
Allan
Cripes that would have been a switch hell holding Crete and keeping the majority of the Med Fleet undamaged is a big change.

I also imagine that telling some people about the Five and other Soviet spies in Britain as well would be on the cards.
 
Still though, back to the current fic I think Force Z ITTL is going to become a major thorn in the side of the IJN and IJA .
One carrier will be its Achillies heel though. Probably need to fill it with fighters (navalised Hurricanes or are they operating Wildcats / Martlets yet?) to offer any protection to the surface action group. Will be able to shake off the CVLs the Japanese often used to cover invasions but will be overwhelmed by the KB.
 
One carrier will be its Achillies heel though. Probably need to fill it with fighters (navalised Hurricanes or are they operating Wildcats / Martlets yet?) to offer any protection to the surface action group. Will be able to shake off the CVLs the Japanese often used to cover invasions but will be overwhelmed by the KB.
Will probably depend on when and were they catch the convoy like best chances for Force Z I think would be catching the convoy in a night action.
 
23 January 1942. Batavia, Java.
...With Admiral Phillips’ Force Z the only real force in the area, it would fall to him in HMS Nelson, with HMS Warspite, HMS Ark Royal, and the various British and Dutch cruisers and destroyers to try to upset the Japanese plans. The Dutch had spotted a Japanese fleet of transports and escorts sailing south from Tarakan, expected to arrive off Balikpapan during the night. The weather was poor, but the Dutch had collected as many bombers and fighters as possible, along with a couple of submarines to attempt to harry the Japanese, allowing Force Z to close with them and, if their luck held, put them to the sword.
I wonder if HMS Ajax is there in this timeline? Besides being one of those at the original timeline Battle of the River Plate, it put a six inch shell into one of the guns at the Longues battery on D-Day. https://www.d-daytoursnormandy.com/the-longues-sur-mer-battery-normandy-france/

Edit:
I think HMS Ajax was busy in the Mediterranean in the original timeline in early 1942, but then went off for a refit? So I guess it's a coin toss whether the admiralty sent her east in this timeline if the Mediterranean is quiet enough, or consider the refit takes priority...
 
Last edited:
If it helps here is the link to a War Against Japan, Volume 1: The Loss of Singapore, Kirby, S. Woodburn et al. London: HMSO, 1957. This has been digitise by Google Book and a PDF copy can be downloaded.
 
I think HMS Ajax was busy in the Mediterranean in the original timeline in early 1942, but then went off for a refit? So I guess it's a coin toss whether the admiralty sent her east in this timeline if the Mediterranean is quiet enough, or consider the refit takes priority...
By the looks of things from here, she had been heavily worked in the Med, including damage from near misses in Crete evacuation. I sent some of the 'sunk' ships to the Far East, so Ajax will probably need the refits anyway.
Allan
 
Hm, so if they can pin the Japanese in Balikpapan long enough, Force Z could smash them? That would severely impeded the Japanese.
 
Will probably depend on when and were they catch the convoy like best chances for Force Z I think would be catching the convoy in a night action.
Or maybe not, since night-fighting was something of an IJN speciality and those Long Lances can make a big hole in even heavy warships.
Daytime action, though, will depend critically on what sort of air cover the Japanese have.

If Force Z can defeat the Balikpapan invasion or even just force it to turn back, it will upset the Japanese plans more than anything that's been happening in Malaya. Singapore is nice, but the Japanese need that Borneo oil.
 
Or maybe not, since night-fighting was something of an IJN speciality and those Long Lances can make a big hole in even heavy warships.
Britain has radar, which can spot ships without any visual cues. Also, Long Lances are dangerous when they hit, but whether they hit is a matter for debate. Hells, Britain has airborne radar, so they can conduct carrier operations at night.

If Force Z can defeat the Balikpapan invasion or even just force it to turn back, it will upset the Japanese plans more than anything that's been happening in Malaya. Singapore is nice, but the Japanese need that Borneo oil.
All the more, if it can sink transports, even empty ones, that will hurt the Japanese down the line too.
 
Kapitein ter Zee G. G. Bozuwa of Marineluchtvaartdienst (MLD) had been working well with the other operators of the PBY equipped squadrons
i don't think the MLD used PBY's at this stage yet, they had a fleet of34 Dornier 24Ks for this purpose.
edit: looked it up the MLD ordered 48 pby's in '41, and were only delivered some time after pearl, so in jan '42 they haven't started flying with them yet( they have arrived probably, but they are still into the process of training on them)
 
Last edited:
Or maybe not, since night-fighting was something of an IJN speciality and those Long Lances can make a big hole in even heavy warships.
Daytime action, though, will depend critically on what sort of air cover the Japanese have.

If Force Z can defeat the Balikpapan invasion or even just force it to turn back, it will upset the Japanese plans more than anything that's been happening in Malaya. Singapore is nice, but the Japanese need that Borneo oil.
I think the Imperial Japanese may already have Balikpapan (or at least forces there), and this could be the Palembang invasion force on the way to Sumatra.
Unless I've muddled up which timeline is which...

Edit:
So if the Alliers take out enough transports, or force the convoy to turn back, it's Sumatra which remains Allied for now...
 
Last edited:
Hm, does Surabaya have the facilities to maintain Force Z 'in the field' so to speak? I can imagine suddenly finding the enemy having a major naval presence near where you want to attack would cause a bit of consternation in the Japanese commands.
 
Last edited:
Or maybe not, since night-fighting was something of an IJN speciality and those Long Lances can make a big hole in even heavy warships.
Daytime action, though, will depend critically on what sort of air cover the Japanese have.

If Force Z can defeat the Balikpapan invasion or even just force it to turn back, it will upset the Japanese plans more than anything that's been happening in Malaya. Singapore is nice, but the Japanese need that Borneo oil.
I keep seeing this stated that the IJN were specialists in nigh fighting as if they alone thought of it.

The RN trained heavily in nigh fighting techniques prewar, and carried on in night actions throughout the early part of the war in the North Sea and the Med.

At this point in the war the IJN are superior to the USN in night fighting but the RN is every bit as prepared for night actions as the IJN.
 
I keep seeing this stated that the IJN were specialists in nigh fighting as if they alone thought of it.

The RN trained heavily in nigh fighting techniques prewar, and carried on in night actions throughout the early part of the war in the North Sea and the Med.

At this point in the war the IJN are superior to the USN in night fighting but the RN is every bit as prepared for night actions as the IJN.
And they have radar (including airborne units IIRC, at a time when not every Japanese fighter even had radios), which provides a major edge.
 
Last update was of Indian divisions being posted to Balikpapan so I don’t think it has fallen yet.
Okay. It looks like I confused Sumatra and Borneo (and Palembang and Balikpapan) when I read that post. Although now I'm not sure how Indian troops got to Balikpapan in time. They presumably embark at Singapore but it's what... a thousand miles by sea around the south side of Borneo through the Java Sea? How long is it since they were pulled off the line, before they turn up in Borneo?

Edit:
Or were those Indian troops not fighting in Malaya but coming from somewhere else?
 
Last edited:
Okay. It looks like I confused Sumatra and Borneo (and Palembang and Balikpapan) when I read that post. Although now I'm not sure how Indian troops got to Balikpapan in time. They presumably embark at Singapore but it's what... a thousand miles by sea around the south side of Borneo through the Java Sea? How long is it since they were pulled off the line, before they turn up in Borneo?

Edit:
Or were those Indian troops not fighting in Malaya but coming from somewhere else?
No, the two battalions had been at Kuching, then withdrew to Pontianak where they were picked up by Force Z and brought to Balikpapan.
 
Top