The Whale Has Wings Vol 3 - Holding the Barrier (11 page)

Dec 19th

General Brauchitsch is formally removed as Commander-in-Chief. Hitler assumes the duties personally. The German attacks on Sevastopol continues with the Soviets managing to bring in 14,000 reinforcements via sea between today and the 25th. The Red Army is still pressing the Germans back in the north, as the German Army suffers from the extreme cold.

The USN’s Task Force 8 (Vice Admiral Halsey), formed around the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CV-6), heavy cruisers, and destroyers, sails from Pearl Harbor. It is tasked to join with TF 11 and support the reinforcement of Wake Island. Since Admiral Fletcher's force is expected to pause to refuel (so his lighter units are able to fully use their speed in case of attack), he expects to join up with him just before he reaches Wake. Current intelligence is mixed; the Japanese obviously got a bloody nose on their first attack, and are preparing for a second attempt. There are unsubstantiated reports that a carrier is being sent to the area, and also battleships, though this is seen as less likely with the sinking by the Royal Navy of two of the IJN's 11 battleships in the South China Sea.

The battleships HMS Valiant and HMS Malaya, moored at Alexandria, are badly damaged by explosions under their keels planted by human torpedo's operated by Italian frogmen of the Decima Flottiglia MAS. The damage is so great that these two ships are deemed unseaworthy. However as both of them are in the shallow harbour, reconnaissance photographs taken by the Italians indicate the attack was a failure and the ships are still operational. Both are in fact sitting upright on the bottom.

In northern Malaya the planned withdrawal from Jitra goes ahead, covered by the artillery firing off all its remaining stocks (a shortage of shells due to the Japanese attacks and the consequent difficulty of resupply was one reason behind the withdrawal). The infantry head south, covered by the remaining Matilda tanks. Only eight remain operational; 22 have been lost, although only seven in combat, usually to a suicidal attack by Japanese infantry with satchel charges, the Matilda being immune to any conventional weapons possessed by the Japanese. The others have been lost to the Matilda's perennial problem, mechanical breakdown. While a withdrawal under fire is always a difficult operation, the experienced troops carry it off with efficiency, aided by the heavy Japanese losses - this has made the commanders at the front rather wary of the Australians, and by the time they realise this is a withdrawal rather than a trap the Australians are on their way south.

The Japanese convoy which attracted the attentions of HMS Unbroken yesterday has continued on to Borneo, where it lands elements of the 16th Division at Miri, Seria and Lutong. Although the loss of some of his force en route made the commander consider only landing in two places, he has decided to take all three, confident his troops can defeat any local opposition, as Lutong is in any case close to Miri.

Dutch reconnaissance aircraft from Singkawang, Borneo, continue to make reconnaissance flights over the Japanese invasion fleet. Despite a lack of torpedoes, a Dutch Dornier Do-24 bombs and sinks Japanese destroyer HIJMS Shinonome off Miri, Borneo. Meanwhile RAF Beaufighters are preparing to make a strike on the ships; they left from Singapore before dawn, and refuelled at Kuching airfield. They then flew north, to be joined by a squadron of Dutch Buffaloes, to make a strike on the ships. The first group of ships was sighted off Miri, and the first twelve Beaufighters were happy to find them not only anchored and busy unloading, but with no fighter cover. Opposed only by the AA from the ships, they placed their torpedoes carefully, leaving three of the five ships sinking, and two more damaged. They then carried on to Seria, where they found the remaining three transport ships. Although they only had four torpedoes left, they sank one of the three and damaged a second, They and the fighters then strafed the remaining ship, leaving it on fire (although the crew managed to put this out and save the ship). Apparently the Japanese had not expected any opposition to the landings apart from on land, and after the heavy losses in aircraft they had sustained recently had decided that this force did not need air cover. One Beaufighter had been damaged by AA, and made a forced landing at Kutching; a second was lost when it landed badly.

The Japanese landings had gone quite successfully until the arrival of the Beaufighters, and they had landed their troops, although supplies would now be a problem. After the events in Malaya and Thailand, the commanders had decided that no matter what reassurances they got from the IJN they would get their troops at least off the ships and onto land as fast as possible.

While the warning given to the local defenders allowed them to resist the landings, they were heavily outnumbered (even with the losses the Japanese had suffered to the submarine attack), and by noon the Japanese were in possession of the town of Miri.

There had been considerable discussion on whether there was any serious chance of holding Borneo if the Japanese invade. It would be helpful to deny them a base so close to Singapore and the oil in the area, but it might mean writing off any troops sent. The Dutch are reluctant to commit more men as they expect to be fighting for the DEI once the Japanese have finished in the Philippines. After secret talks with the Australians, it was decided to send about 1,500 men from the reserve 8th Division and about the same number of Ghurkhas from Malaya. For political reasons an Australian commander is named. The force from Malaya sailed today, having been prepared once the Japanese invasion fleet was detected, and the Australians will hopefully leave today or tomorrow. It is still being decided where the best place to land them will be.

Air support is a problem; the heavy air fighting in Malaya has depleted the RAF and RAAF force, and replacement planes have not yet arrived. On the positive side, the RN has butchered the long-range bomber force, and the Dutch promise fighter support to both defend the force and aid with ground attacks. Admiral Somerville is unsure just what Japanese naval support will be give, but a light striking force of three cruisers and four destroyers is held at Singapore for the time being. Any operations will be close to the Borneo coast, so he expects land-based fighter support to be acceptable.

Dec 20th

In a major reorganisation at the top of the USN, Admiral Ernest J. King is appointed as Commander in Chief of the US Fleet.

The Japanese increase their strength in the Philippines by landing at Davao an invasion force of fourteen transports covered by a cruiser squadron and the light carrier Ryujo. In order to prevent interference a heavy force of bombers attacks Del Monte airfield, while other airfields are strafed by their fighters.

A British convoy arrives at Singapore carrying supplies, more aircraft to replace those lost, and the 18th British division. It is intended to add this division to the 8th and 11th Indian divisions, but as the defence line in the north is currently holding well, Alexander instructs that the troops will undergo a rush course in fighting in the jungle while they acclimatise, bearing in mind they may need to go into combat at any time.

Force Z arrives in Ceylon to fly on replacement aircraft and to load more supplies (torpedoes in particular). The carrier Bulwark will replace Illustrious while her deck is properly fixed, then Illustrious will rejoin to equip Somerville's force with three fleet carriers. He also intends to strengthen his cruiser force, although he still suffers from a shortage of destroyers. He has suggested that ships that have had to retire from the Philippines are sent to Singapore where they can add to his escort force, but this has to clear political objections in the USA.

A large convoy leaves the UK headed for the Far East. It is intended to take it straight through the Mediterranean to save time, and plans are made to give the maximum possible protection. The convoy carries supplies for Burma as well as Malaya, as the Chiefs of Staff expect it only to be a matter of time before the Japanese launch an attack to gain the Burmese oil fields and push the British back to make supporting Malaya more difficult. Part of the convoy escort will remain in the Far East to increase Somerville's force. The Chiefs of Staff are also looking at sending squadrons from the Mediterranean and Middle East areas out to the Far East and replacing them directly from the UK.

The RAF has been following up its raid on Hamburg with raids on Bremen and Wilhelmshaven. As before, the main target has been the docks and heavy engineering to reduce the production of U-boats. It is intended to carry on these raids for another month before evaluating the effect on U-boat production. It is also practice for a much larger bombing campaign planned for when the high-altitude Coventry bomber is available in suitable numbers.

Discussions have been taking place with the French regarding support in the Far East. The Admiralty has already expressed its satisfaction with the French naval support, and while the bulk of French forces will stay in the Med for operations closer to France, it is agreed that a token force of some squadrons of aircraft and a Brigade of the Foreign Legion will be sent east to show the mutual support the Allies are giving to each other's fights. It is as a result of this, and the increasing French army force in North Africa, that French representatives will be going to the Arcadia conference in Washington. While it is accepted that the USA and Britain are the big players, France will also go to speak for themselves as well as the other occupied nation forces, as the UK will for the Empire. There is a certain amount of self-interest by Britain here, as they consider the French rather more understanding of the realities of the war than the Americans are at present, and indeed at the moment the French are supplying considerably more divisions than the USA to the conflict.

Dec 22nd

A reinforced Japanese landing force known as the Wake Occupation Force leaves Kwajalein bound for Wake Island. It is under the command of Rear Admiral Kajioka Sadamichi. Air attacks are continued by the Japanese carriers Soryu and Hiryu. The attacks by 'carrier-type planes' have been reported by the island, and are seen as likely intelligence that at least one Japanese fleet carrier is in the area. There is some pressure on the USN to abandon Wake rather than risk a carrier engagement which could result in the loss of a carrier. Although this is seen a risk not normally worth taking, it is pointed out that refusing battle because an IJN carrier is around, especially after the recent South China Sea action by the Royal Navy, would have severe effects on the morale of the Pacific fleet. The relief of Wake is authorised to go ahead, although 'with caution if a Japanese carrier is encountered', which leads at least one US Admiral to mutter about "making sure we carry the blame whatever happens".

The Japanese land the 38th Division at Lingayen Gulf on Luzon. The Japanese soon establish a strong beachhead and finish unloading their troops by the 23rd.

The Arcadia Conference between the Allied governments in Washington DC begins with talks between the two main countries, the USA and the UK. They confirm the policy from Placentia Bay in August of 'Germany first'. They also establish the Combined Chiefs of Staff for the entire Allied military effort. Since this will be in the main a US-UK effort, in order to keep the organisation to a manageable size the representatives will be from the UK and USA. Other countries such as France, Canada and Australia will have representatives, but they will not sit on the Combined Chiefs of Staff. A general strategic program is approved of a US build-up in Britain, particularly in air power, to continue the bombing offensive. The concept of further losses in the Pacific is accepted with the understanding that a stiff defence will hold these to a minimum. This conference will last through to the 7th of January.

The Japanese force which landed at Miri has a problem. The plan had been to move down the coast by ship to take the airfield at Kuching. However, the transports necessary for this plan are either sunk or disabled, and only 3,000 of the planned 4,500 men were landed. They are told to remain where they are while the IJN sends more transportation for them, however the commander does send some reconnaissance forces down the coast. They are a constant worry to the British petroleum engineers at the oil fields; the fields have been comprehensively prepared for demolitions, but they have been told to wait, if possible, until they see the Japanese moving in their direction. The Allied forces in the area around the invasion are little more than armed police and militia, and have no real chance of stopping the Japanese if they decide to advance.

Discussions are ongoing between the Chinese, British and Americans about the idea of Chinese divisions being sent to Burma to help defend it. The Chinese are of course worried about the road links over which most of their supplies come. The British are concerned about seeing Chinese troops in what is, after all, a British possession. A compromise is finally reached; the Chinese will send a number of 'observers', to keep an eye on the situation and be ready to advise Chinese troops if they are deployed. The Chinese will keep the equivalent of two western divisions available, but they will not enter Burma unless the Japanese invade. It is not a perfect solution, but at least it is acceptable to all sides.