The Whale has Wings

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Borneo is only partly japanese, and i THINK youve got them advanced too far in indohina, but i could be wrong there.

Vichy french guiana, boy does that look wierd. On both maps.

He's right, Borneo is a mess - the Allies are on the west and north, the Japanese on the east. With virtually no roads, ins really a case of isolated holdings on the coast by both sides, but the Japanese are trying to use some of the ports to help stage into Java.
Its a mess of small raids and large patrols at the moment, both sides think Java is more important.

I think everyones forgotten about French Guiana,,,:eek::eek:
Which is probably what the inhabitants are hoping too...!!
 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Executive_Order_9066

I don't think FDR is under the same pressure to defend the home coastline. The Pacific war is going better and he has done something about all the sinking ships on the east coast. If this still goes ahead, it might be used in a narrower way. To prevent lights on the coast, allow manoeuvres, beef up port security and to site coast watches rather than to intern US citizens with Japanese/Korean ancestry. Opposition from JE Hoover and Eleanor might prove just that bit more convincing.

It probably would have had some effect, but to be honest its a complex mess I am going to leave as OTL due to lack of time. After all, Japan HAS attacked the West Coast...sort of...:p
 
He's right, Borneo is a mess - the Allies are on the west and north, the Japanese on the east. With virtually no roads, ins really a case of isolated holdings on the coast by both sides, but the Japanese are trying to use some of the ports to help stage into Java.
Its a mess of small raids and large patrols at the moment, both sides think Java is more important.

I think everyones forgotten about French Guiana,,,:eek::eek:
Which is probably what the inhabitants are hoping too...!!

I'm sure De Gaulle hasn't forgotten them...:eek:
 
I wonder why Madagascar hasn't gone loyalist yet.

With Africa otherwise calm, the South Africans can invade at leisure, and the Governor will know that.
 
March 14th

Hitler advances planning on a summer offensive against Russia. The defences in front of Moscow are now formidable, so the main target will be in the south, aimed towards the Russian oil fields, but in the north a new attack will be made to finally take Leningrad.

Japanese aircraft bomb Horn Island located 10 miles off the northern coast of Queensland. Horn Island, in the Torres Strait between Queensland and New Guinea, will become the main tactical base for Allied air operations in the Torres Strait

US forces finally begin to arrive in Australia in large numbers. A convoy (originally intended for the PI when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor) brings 30,000 American troops who are to serve in Australia and New Caledonia. After a brief stay in Australia the New Caledonia Task Force of some 14,000 officers and men arrived in Noumea on 12 March. The rest of the men are being readied for deployment on Java, but if events make this impractical, a diversion to Timor and New Guinea is possible. Two more US divisions are on their way

The Australian government debates the use of the new divisions being raised outside of Australia, with the provision that deployments must have Australian approval. This is intended to allow the forward defence of islands such as New Guinea. There is also an unofficial implied consideration that the troops are under Australian command. So far the forward defence of the Malay barrier is working (although under severe pressure), and the Australians would rather fight the Japanese on the islands than in Australia itself. There is considerable political division on this, but the opposition is beaten down with the agreement that Blamey be put forward for command of the Australian theatre (although this is not made public). In public they start to pressure for Blamey to be appointed, with the public reason it would be good to have command clarified in view of the continuing Japanese attacks and advances. The divisions are, however, having an effect on Menzies, who is seen to be looking tired and worn after the debate.

The troop convoy from Darwin arrives at Port Moresby; additional forces including RAAF and USAAF personnel will arrive shortly. It is intended to hold a defensive position in New Guinea until the situation at Java is resolved.

The situation on the East Coast of the USA is slowly improving. The new 'bucket brigade' system is working well, and losses have dropped steadily. The first of the old US 'four-pipers' that were in the reserve are being activated and assigned to this operation, as their limited range is not an issue for these operations. They are not good AS ships, however, and for the moment are being supplemented by RN and RCN escorts. Meanwhile the 'mutiny' by US merchant captains has been quietly forgotten with the proviso that the people involved keep quiet about the politically-embarrassing matter.

HMS Audacious and her escorts arrived at Ceylon. With his current carriers all available for Java, Somerville insists that she spends time getting fully operational before she sees action. He also wants to keep the arrival of the new carrier secret for as long as possible.

March 15th

At a staff meeting in Berlin, Chancellor Adolf Hitler and his generals study the situation in the Soviet Union. Moscow has not fallen, and is now unlikely to fall to a direct attack. German casualties from Soviet firepower and frostbite have been immense, but the Soviet counterattacks at Moscow, Staraya Russa, and the Crimea are coming to a close as the Soviets run out of supplies. The initiative is going back to the Germans, and Hitler forecasts the annihilation of the Soviet Army in summer. That evening, at the Sportspalast Hitler announces that the Soviet Union will be "annihilatingly defeated" in the next summer offensive.

Japan launches an artillery attack on Manila Bay. In the Manila Bay area the Japanese, having emplaced additional artillery along the southern shore of Manila Bay southwest of Ternate, renew intensive bombardment of fortified islands in the bay. The shelling is conducted daily and in great force through 21 March, despite U.S. counterbattery fire. Forts Frank and Drum are particularly hard hit.

March 16th

Submarine USS Permit delivers ammunition to Corregidor Island, and evacuates the second increment of naval radio and communications intelligence people.

The Japanese air force stages an attack on Darwin. Since the failure to take Timor the Japanese have been staging minor nuisance raids against Timor, both sides taking light losses. The attack on Darwin comes as a surprise (as intended), and the response is slow. As a result some 12 planes are lost on the ground at the airfield before the bombers can be intercepted. The Japanese lose four bombers and three Zeros for the loss (in the air) of five P-40's. Fortunately for the RAAF the planes at Darwin have been heavily dispersed (the original field was not designed to hold the number of planes now operating out of Darwin), and so only one fighter field was bombed before the defenders could intercept. The RAAF is not happy at the slow and disorganised response, as Darwin is becoming steadily more important as a base, and a number of officers are posted away as part of a general shakeup of the defences.

March 17th

New B-17's arrive to take MacArthur and his party to Australia. However the attempt is interrupted by a Japanese raid (it would seem that the days of delay have given the Japanese some information that some sort of operation is underway). Two of the B-17's are damaged, fortunately not severely, and a number of ground crew, and some in MacArthur's party, injured. Apparently the General himself has received a wound, although no details are yet available. The ground crews race to repair the planes before the Japanese can attack again.

March 18th

The B-17's carrying General MacArthur and his party arrive at Darwin. They will later fly on to the metropolis of Alice Springs on their way south. No official clarification is given on MacArthur's wound, though apparently the General was unable to sit during the journey south.
 
MacArthur should just be glad you let him out alive, although he may yet die of embarrassment.:D

The Japanese continue to spread their resources too thinly. All this latest round of air attacks is going to do is tighten up the defences and make sure any later efforts are far more costly.
 
MacArthur should just be glad you let him out alive, although he may yet die of embarrassment.:D

The Japanese continue to spread their resources too thinly. All this latest round of air attacks is going to do is tighten up the defences and make sure any later efforts are far more costly.

I haven't finsiehd with Mac yet....;)

Spreading thin is what the Japanese did; in OTL they got away with it due to weak and fragmented defences, this time...
 
Astrodragon

Been away and catching up. Somewhat frustrated that the Timor Battle ended with no major carrier battle after all that build-up, but then it seems fairly likely under the circumstances.;)

In regards the US coastal convoys that might be the one type of area that King could be right, about an unescorted convoy being worse than no convoy. Given the natural bottlenecks that would occur with coastal convoys it might be more dangerous for MS to travel in unescorted packs. Would agree however that it does seem rather unlikely the USN couldn't arrange some escorts. Especially given they still have the 50 extra 4 pipers and they should have known war was coming.

The Japanese will soon have to start realising how deeply in the shit they are. Given the delays on Alexander's attack in Malaya, awaiting the Australian armour, I'm suspecting [and hoping] that Yamashita will be pushed into attacking 1st. His outnumbered and under-supplied forces will bleed themselves white and then be smashed in the counter offensive. [Although a little surprised that Churchill hasn't been hounding Alexander to liberate Bangkok yet!;)]

If the Japanese have bled their forward forces enough then a quick[ish] advance through Thailand may be possible, especially since a lot of people in the country could well be less than pleased with their new overlords, sorry allies:p. In terms of FIC I think any advance from Burma would be bloody difficult due to the terrain but as others have pointed out there are French forces also in the region who might also be considering their options.;)

In terms of Java, since Somerville has 4CV and 2CVL and at least some awareness of the Japanese attack I find it difficult to see it becoming anything but a bloody massacre for the Japanese. Unless their lucky enough to see early losses resulting in the cancelling of the attack I could see all 3CVL and the entire invasion force destroyed. Especially if the allies allow them to actually get close to Java before showing their hands.

Bad for the US-Filipino forces in Bataan but it was OTL and can see nothing to change that. Don't know if the heavy artillery reinforcements were OTL but unlikely to change things a lot. What might be significant, especially if Mac is captured/killed is the status of the assorted sub-commanders. OTL the forces in Mindanao were obliged to surrender along with those in Bataan because they had the same commander and the Japanese insisted they would only accept both surrendering. If that is different TTL then the southern units could be able to continue fighting. Given how stretched the Japanese forces are and the relative weakness of the defenders they might be left largely undisturbed.

In the Pacific the extra fleet CV and the additional losses of the IJN in the fighting so far should mean the USN is in a better position to raid the Japanese flank more effectively. They might end up giving the coup_de_grâce to the Japanese carrier force, rather than the RN doing it.

The Pacific is going to take the bulk of the allied attention for the next few months but once the immediate threat is out of the way in the east I think the priority will return to the European theatre. Be interested to see if BC is any more effective TTL than OTL.

Steve

PS While writing this I see you got another update in and we know more about MacArthur's fate.:)
 
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Astrodragon

Been away and catching up. Somewhat frustrated that the Timor Battle ended with no major carrier battle after all that build-up, but then it seems fairly likely under the circumstances.;)

In regards the US coastal convoys that might be the one type of area that King could be right, about an unescorted convoy being worse than no convoy. Given the natural bottlenecks that would occur with coastal convoys it might be more dangerous for MS to travel in unescorted packs. Would agree however that it does seem rather unlikely the USN couldn't arrange some escorts. Especially given they still have the 50 extra 4 pipers and they should have known war was coming.

The Japanese will soon have to start realising how deeply in the shit they are. Given the delays on Alexander's attack in Malaya, awaiting the Australian armour, I'm suspecting [and hoping] that Yamashita will be pushed into attacking 1st. His outnumbered and under-supplied forces will bleed themselves white and then be smashed in the counter offensive. [Although a little surprised that Churchill hasn't been hounding Alexander to liberate Bangkok yet!;)]

If the Japanese have bled their forward forces enough then a quick[ish] advance through Thailand may be possible, especially since a lot of people in the country could well be less than pleased with their new overlords, sorry allies:p. In terms of FIC I think any advance from Burma would be bloody difficult due to the terrain but as others have pointed out there are French forces also in the region who might also be considering their options.;)

In terms of Java, since Somerville has 4CV and 2CVL and at least some awareness of the Japanese attack I find it difficult to see it becoming anything but a bloody massacre for the Japanese. Unless their lucky enough to see early losses resulting in the cancelling of the attack I could see all 3CVL and the entire invasion force destroyed. Especially if the allies allow them to actually get close to Java before showing their hands.

Bad for the US-Filipino forces in Bataan but it was OTL and can see nothing to change that. Don't know if the heavy artillery reinforcements were OTL but unlikely to change things a lot. What might be significant, especially if Mac is captured/killed is the status of the assorted sub-commanders. OTL the forces in Mindanao were obliged to surrender along with those in Bataan because they had the same commander and the Japanese insisted they would only accept both surrendering. If that is different TTL then the southern units could be able to continue fighting. Given how stretched the Japanese forces are and the relative weakness of the defenders they might be left largely undisturbed.

In the Pacific the extra fleet CV and the additional losses of the IJN in the fighting so far should mean the USN is in a better position to raid the Japanese flank more effectively. They might end up giving the coup_de_grâce to the Japanese carrier force, rather than the RN doing it.

The Pacific is going to take the bulk of the allied attention for the next few months but once the immediate threat is out of the way in the east I think the priority will return to the European theatre. Be interested to see if BC is any more effective TTL than OTL.

Steve

A very cogent analysis but Somerville now has five fleet carriers with Audacious arriving and and hopefully swiftly worked up.:)
 
AFAIK, Mac bringing out gold is just a myth. Especially in view of the weight/space issues on the plane that actually flew him out.

From "MacArthur and defeat in the Philippines" by Richard Connaughton on page 267:

The decision to evacuate the Quezons brought to a head the delicate matter of the rewards due to MacArthur and his staff. On 14 February the Chase National Bank was ordered by cable to ransfer funds from the Philippine account to the designated individuals, including MacArthur's 500,000 USD. The transfer would take four days to effect and, in the interim, the equivalent in Philippine Treasury Certificates was placed in a footlocker and handed by Roxas to Huff, acting as MacArthur's agent, as collateral. On 18 February, Quezon cabled Chase to inquire whether the transaction had gone through.
Page 268 (about Quezon's evacuation by the submarine Swordfish):
The code-breakers, who were intended to leave Corregidor for Australia, were left behind in favor of the civilian adminstrators. In Sayre's posession (added: on the submarine instead of the codebreakers) was a footlocker consigned to Riggs National Bank, Washington - MacArthur's bank. The letter to the manager explained that te locker contained "valuable records and documents from my personal files. It is requested that you hold the trunk for me in your safe deposit vault to be withdrawn by me or by Major General RK. Sutherland.
I own this book, but it has been years since I read it. Leafing through it's index I found 5 different references to MacArthur's "financial affairs". Another one of those references explains the buying of mining stocks by MacArthur on December 28th 1941, which according to Vargas made MacArthur a millionaire after WWII.

Although hiring MacArthur (and his political clout) meant that the Philippines got a lot of positive attention from the limited pre-war American budget (whatever little that amounted to), it also resulted that the Philippines very limited amount of government expenditure was sucked up by hiring a mercenary foreign field marshal.
Makes one wonder how much Falkenhausen for example got paid by the Chinese? Or how many regiments of Filippino's could have been clothed, fed, armed and trained instead of hiring MacArthur?

MacArthur might not have taken goldbars along, but that doesn't mean much.
He definitely got paid extremely well for his services by an impoverished foreign nation.
 
From "MacArthur and defeat in the Philippines" by Richard Connaughton on page 267:

Page 268 (about Quezon's evacuation by the submarine Swordfish):
I own this book, but it has been years since I read it. Leafing through it's index I found 5 different references to MacArthur's "financial affairs". Another one of those references explains the buying of mining stocks by MacArthur on December 28th 1941, which according to Vargas made MacArthur a millionaire after WWII.

Although hiring MacArthur (and his political clout) meant that the Philippines got a lot of positive attention from the limited pre-war American budget (whatever little that amounted to), it also resulted that the Philippines very limited amount of government expenditure was sucked up by hiring a mercenary foreign field marshal.
Makes one wonder how much Falkenhausen for example got paid by the Chinese? Or how many regiments of Filippino's could have been clothed, fed, armed and trained instead of hiring MacArthur?

MacArthur might not have taken goldbars along, but that doesn't mean much.
He definitely got paid extremely well for his services by an impoverished foreign nation.

Just when you thought he couldn't be worse.
 
A very cogent analysis but Somerville now has five fleet carriers with Audacious arriving and and hopefully swiftly worked up.:)

Garrison

However I think he's planning on keeping Audacious out of it until she's fully worked up. Might bring them in if he thinks the Japanese fleet CVs are coming out to play but otherwise probably not I suspect.

Which raises the point. Astrodragon has mentioned that the USN is still working on doctrine for more than 2CV in a battle-group, how is the RN doing? I don't think its deployed more than two together in a battle or attack before this but could be forgetting. Would the current fleet be deployed in such 2CV squads or one massive force?

Steve
 
Garrison

However I think he's planning on keeping Audacious out of it until she's fully worked up. Might bring them in if he thinks the Japanese fleet CVs are coming out to play but otherwise probably not I suspect.

Which raises the point. Astrodragon has mentioned that the USN is still working on doctrine for more than 2CV in a battle-group, how is the RN doing? I don't think its deployed more than two together in a battle or attack before this but could be forgetting. Would the current fleet be deployed in such 2CV squads or one massive force?

Steve
Hey I can hope it's ready in time to give the Japanese a nasty shock. :)

From what's been said before I would guess two groups of two for the time being; after all while co-ordinating larger groups is desirable they haven't really got the time to work on it ATM ITTL.
 
Hey I can hope it's ready in time to give the Japanese a nasty shock. :)

From what's been said before I would guess two groups of two for the time being; after all while co-ordinating larger groups is desirable they haven't really got the time to work on it ATM ITTL.

The current docrtrine of the RN is to use 2 CV together. If available (and if facing a strong opponment), they also can use a light carrier with the group, mainly to serve as defence for the TF. They only use a bigger group if its something like a pre-prepared night strike, where coordination issues arent such a problem.

At this point in time, the USN hasnt got the art of using 2CV's together well (OTL Midway), but they are improving.

I have a plan for the use of Audacious....;)
 
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