Dispatches from the Pacific

[Paddy]

July 1942 TOP SECRET
From Allied Command Centre San Francisco America
To Allied Command Centre Sydney Australia

Another reasonably quiet time in the pacific ... though no one can tell for how long. It feels a little eerie with only the occasional jap sub showing themselves, feels like something bad is about to happen.

I have initiated the movement of TF Alpha towards the Truk sector and Bravo towards Kwajalein ... it will be several months before they are ready to engage the enemy, but when they do I wouldn't want to be a Jap.

The only major event of note of the last several weeks has been the eruption of major violence on the W coast USA. Though I have my suspicions about enemy saboteurs and fifth columnists, it appears the people in South-East LA have risen up and rioted over overcrowding. I tell you, we can’t please some people - would they rather live under the iron fist of the Jap?! These damn peaceniks and pinkotreehuggers demanding an end to war its disgusting. It’s that damn lefty philosophy they teach at Berkeley, well that and the nefarious and insidious marijuana! Note to self: investigate possibility enemy is smuggling large quantities of class A narcotics into the US of A to turn our people against us.

Good news on the demise of the 25th Army in Bhuket. Keep up the good work!


July 1942 TOP SECRET
From East Coast Australia Allied Command Centre Sydney
To West Coast America Allied Command Centre San Francisco

Ok, my sub force around Manila has been found and smashed by Jap bombers. Jap has quite a mighty air force in the region, I warn you now to be very careful of this situation when you approach...

Thank you for the Lend Lease finances, I see that the commonwealth will be sharing its common wealth with your nation for many a year to come. These funds will go along way in the coming months...

I have seeded some of it to complete Australia’s 3rd international airport, this one in the seaside town of Perth. Other funds were spent rushing a light tank in Burma

The great Nulabour Rail has been completed. A dream of the nation to link the Indian and Pacific Oceans with a ribbon of rail. Amazing just bloody amazing what we can achieve in times of war. The rail gangs have now moved to finish the rail link to Darwin. This should be done in a few months, we will probably finish the line to cairns after that...

More troops have arrived in Singapore, the base there has seen so many Anzacs, quite fantastic that it is still operational. Bhuket is safe again. Our relief column has joined up with the troops on the hills outside of Bangkok. supplies including vegemite, minties and bread were much sort after. the troops held quite a riotous party on the hill over looking Bangkok, in many ways daring Jap to come out of his hole... when all was said and done, the lads dug in and are awaiting a 2nd column before heading in. It was no surprise when very late in the month Jap threw 11 bombing runs on the camp. I am proud of the lads, although we suffered casualties, they did not break and run. The 2nd column arrives soon, I wish now I had far more flak units or more fighter squadrons available...

I wonder late into the evening if this battle will be won on the land or in the air.

The new tank unit has been severely mauled when it fought the Jap 25th army, so it has been pulled back for repairs. It should be operational again when a transport of 3 light tanks and artillery rgt arrives in Singapore. Hopefully by the time these units make it to the front we will be through Bangkok, and a few stone throws from smashing the Jap air base on the Cambodian peninsula.

Chinese forces are marching down to either put a hold on Rangoon or Bangkok, either way they are a much welcomed sight. 3 full battalions of them, we may not speak the same language, but we both smile when Jap runs into us.

It is hoped by my boffins that your teams will find good use of this new technology that we send to you. The tank preformed marvelously, and we are sure that your industrial might will be able to really pump them out.

My strategic planners would like to seed you a base of operations. We have many islands that are well resourced, please look them over and let me know your choice. I understand your passion for the Philippines, and I know how Douglas does go on (and on) about them when we sit and chat some evenings. Yet I have felt first hand the devastation of the Jap bombers on my fleets while they sat in and around Singapore harbour, a harbour that had great air cover from several fighter squadrons and several experienced flak battalions. So we would like for you to have a safer base of operations for your multiple task forces that you are sending so far from their homes.

Now, on the point of your General Douglas Macarthur, I do appreciate that you are able to spare me such a skilled and oral warrior for my senior liaison, but are you sure that his mighty prowess is not wasted in such duties. Yes he is a fine motivator, and has been a true blessing in keeping the red tape from .... well getting in the way. You know I heard that he had an English Major-General of the 7th Fusiliers removed and given control of the upper Derwent river in case the chocolate factory outside of Hobart in Tasmania is ever under attack. Not exactly within his authority at this stage, but things do happen when he speaks... Some days I wish there were more like him, others I am glad he is not my boss.

[Paddy]

August 1942 TOP SECRET
From Allied Command Centre San Francisco America
To Allied Command Centre Sydney Australia

TF Alpha and Bravo under steam and making good progress towards first waypoints ... No sign of the enemy, suspect he has withdrawn main fleet elements for reinforcing SE Asian and mainland attacks.

Appreciate warning on enemy airpower in the South China Sea area, I am maintaining an extensive CAP and will continue to do so throughout the journey.

Unfortunately, I still have not seen the Medium tank prototypes you mentioned, they will make a tremendous difference and I will spare no expense to get them under steam to the front conflict zones as soon as I am able.

My thanks for the offer of a forward base to resupply and repair in, I have already included 2 Flak units in my initial ground complement as I suspected those damn zeros and kites would be making themselves felt. I have reviewed the bases available in Borneo and feel Kudet would be most suitable. Though its production facilities are woefully inadequate when compared to the West Coast US, I am predominantly interested in a forward base for logistic purposes and this will serve just fine.

Gen. Macarthur is indeed a good senior liaison, though truth be told, I sent him to you more for the symbolic than the practical (well, that and the fact that I can't stand him and he wanted to be close the action).


August 1942 TOP SECRET
From East Coast Australia Allied Command Centre Sydney
To West Coast America Allied Command Centre San Francisco

Rangoon has been recaptured...

Drafted Anzac units, yes green units from Burmese forts stepped up to the mark and trounced the Jap garrisons. They did such a good job that the Chinese forces in the area no longer had any thing around Rangoon to do and left the area... Which is kind of a shame as I had hoped they would participate in attacking Bangkok.

Kudet has been prepared for your arrival, it is hoped that the contractors have the new barrack complex finished by the time your advance force arrives

New technology should have arrived in the states at this time.

The Columns have meet on the hills outside Bangkok, and I must say that I was shocked to see that not one of the units that were dug in there. Every unit was at critical status. They have now been supplemented with the 2nd column and also the new tank, which has been fully refurbished.

Looking forward to sending them in next month.

A third column has been dispatched from Singapore.
The transport convoy with new tanks has been hit late in the month by a massive air armada, I await reports on whether the transport survived.

Glad to see that your cities are growing so fast on your west coast.

[ChrisiusMaximus]

Loving it

[Paddy]

September 1942 TOP SECRET
From Allied Command Centre San Francisco America
To Allied Command Centre Sydney Australia

Its been a quiet period in our sector, very little has been happening ... the Japs have all but given up on taking Manila, so our boys there can breath a sigh of relief and spend some time in R&R. How much relaxation you can have in that sort of heat, I don't know, but we're sending Bob Hope over so who knows there might be a smile seen after all. I fear this will be a respite all too brief, but deserved nonetheless. I wish we could send a couple of our morale raising USO shows over to those heroes in the Commonwealth camps for holding back the Japs, but its too hot an LZ and Bob's manager would never approve.


September 1942 TOP SECRET
From East Coast Australia Allied Command Centre Sydney
To West Coast America Allied Command Centre San Francisco

Bangkok has Fallen

The western border is ours.
Multiple Green Anzac Units in this battle have stepped up to Regular and Veteran status.

The air lift continues.

A Japanese Unit has landed next to Kudet. I have one Anzac Battalion within striking distance, and will send him in to attack soon.

The Jap has conducted quite an attack on Hong Kong, many of our lads have fallen, but the garrison stands...

[Paddy]

October 1942 TOP SECRET
From Allied Command Centre San Francisco America
To Allied Command Centre Sydney Australia

As TF Alpha neared Kwajalein on their way to Truk, an enemy Destroyer was spotted and promptly eliminated. Not before he scored several hits on the submarine SS Batfish though. Luckily these will only involve heavy repairs and not heavy loss of life. Being the closest TF in bombardment range Alpha veered in and opened a blazing barrage of shell and bomb and managed to sink a Jap Hvy Cruiser. Designation was difficult to appraise due to the huge oil slick and smoking inferno that was once a hull.

About Kudet, my local teams have reported that the Jap contingent you spotted is a paratrooper formation of considerable strength, I trust you will be able to deal with him. Be advised there is a significant fleet supporting him on the Hong Kong side of Borneo proper. Glad to hear about the success in Bangkok, be sure we are all cheering for your hard fought victory.


October 1942 TOP SECRET
From East Coast Australia Allied Command Centre Sydney
To West Coast America Allied Command Centre San Francisco

Kudet has been saved, and the Jap naval patrol as removed them selves to Porto princess
My replenished fighters took off before dawn, and sweep into the Jap Para encampment with the coming light, making a real mess of their camp and overall situation. Then the Anzac battalion moved up onto the adjoining ridge and proceeded to meet them shot for shot. the township awaits your arrival.

Hong Kong proceeds to stand under face of a constant barrage of Jap forces. The draftees of Hong Kong claimed the scalp of a fairly strong Jap tank RGT. I have now seen multiple attacks by our Chinese allies against Jap forces...

Bangkok stands, and a new barracks has been rush purchased with the last of the lend lease gold. Multiple troops are now based there, I have sent you a toe of Bangkok just before they bombed the **** out of it at the end of the turn... multiple injuries... many of those troops started out as green draftees from all over my lands. the Jap bombers have really touched Bangkok in so many ways in the last few months. they have taken out things like the granary, citizens, smashed units from 4 to 1, that sort of thing. If they hit it like that again next turn, I may have to rush some workers there to prop up the population...

Yes Jap has Brutalized the civilian population.... "just one more thing to add to our list of war crimes!" as you would say. Some of my senior staff has discussed importing salt from south Australia to Borneo, so as to have a salt mine in Borneo to send them to for punishment.

Our new tank in Bangkok fell to almost its identical number flying the Jap flag. They just rumbled up over the hill one afternoon, my lads report that they were shocked, many thinking it were our very own tank rgt mucking about. Then our tankers loaded up and met the Jap on the edge of the city, a very messy occasion, The Jap won, but retreated severely mauled. I must say that they are very fast beasts, for our lads were jumping for them, but they were gone. Colonel Barrett of the Flying Wagga Light Tanks wanted to ride out with his RGT, but general B Scot held him in check. The force in Bangkok is not to be squandered, we must take that air base on the Cambodian peninsula, and I refuse to waste resources.

The airport in Auckland has been very active, with several battalions being shipped straight into Singapore the last few months.

I have attached an aerial view of the Western Asian Border.

How soon before you will have forces in Kudet?

[Paddy]

A periscope photo of a torpedoed Japanese destroyer. 1942.

[Paddy]

and the shot came from....

A U.S. Navy officer at the periscope in the control room of a submarine. 1942.

[Paddy]

November 1942 TOP SECRET
From Allied Command Centre San Francisco America
To Allied Command Centre Sydney Australia

The closer TF Alpha gets to Truk the greater the resistance the enemy is putting up. Reports are coming in from both TF Alpha and Bravo of persistent Jap probing by strong sub forces. TF Bravo has taken over the mission of close bombardment of Kwajalein from Alpha, with the initial elements of TF Charlie steaming down from Pearl Harbour to lend their weight of fire to the reduction of the Japs main forward base in the SW Pacific.

After issuing the fleet formation orders for TF Alpha's movement to Truk, an enemy sub was sighted. The elite I-16 had been a thorn in the US Navy's side in the deep pacific for some time, and now it was time for payback. During the previous 2 nights we had lost a destroyer and had the battleship Arizona lightly damaged. Both of these incidents had been attributed to a lone submarine operating under cover of darkness, slinking back to base before dawn. Something must have gone awry with that insidious plan as recon elements out of the Carrier Yorktown report sighting a Jap sub basking in the morning sun desperately carrying out repairs and unable to submerge. We took our time with this prize. Target practice was the order of the day, a shell for every hundred lives this nemesis has taken. Several direct hits and the destroyer Davy Roberts was sent in to finish I-16 off. With that task complete, TF Bravo continued shelling and bombing the Kwajalein Jap base, sinking one hvy cruiser, one transport and mauling a MG bn guarding the beach approaches. Soon the marines (1st & 2nd regt's, with 3rd & 4th in reserve) will be launching an amphibious assault to secure the base and end this threat
to our supply lines.

Patrolling north of Palau, the veteran sub commander of the SS Seawolf reported spotting a significant fleet of two enemy hvy cruisers and a destroyer escorting the veteran Ryujo carrier. Scenting a great prize to be close at hand, the Seawolf closed and opened fire with time-fused torpedoes, aimed squarely at the enemy carrier. In a bad turn of luck the trails from the four torpedoes were noticed and evasive action saved the carrier from certain destruction, resulting in only light damage. Even worse the Seawolf was unable to submerge to sufficient depth before disaster struck. Soon after reporting the light damage and attempt to withdraw was underway, communication from the SS Seawolf was abruptly terminated. A laurel and flag will be dispatched to the grieving families. All other subs in the vicinity have been ordered to drop previous assignments and intercept.

One last point of note, the situation on Kudet seems to have stabilized since your admirable success in thwarting the Jap attempt on the base. This will make a valuable alternative to docking in Manila, which more and more seems in the middle of a hornet’s nest of enemy air and sea power. Communications from the newly established base command at the Kudet facility has reported success in rushing through the mobilization of a regular GI regt. Through the use of the age-old tactic of the 'press-gang' we have trawled all the bars, clubs, mercenary outfits and general seedy establishments for low down scum, better recruits not being available. There is no downside strangely enough as most of these men have considerable military experience and skills. Suffice it to say that the defence of Kudet has been bolstered and should hold out against the low-level Jap assaults we expect.


November 1942 TOP SECRET
From East Coast Australia Allied Command Centre Sydney
To West Coast America Allied Command Centre San Francisco

The Jap thought he could intimidate my men in Bangkok with his new tank force. Several Battalions of Anzacs moved out into the hills and smashed the Jap tanks.

At this point General B Scott let the artillery fly, and they bombarded Pnom-Penh, then he let loose Colonel Barrett of the Flying Wagga Light Tanks, along with two other such battalions. They drove up the ridge, cheered on by the Victorious Anzac Battalion, then descended on the Pnom-Penh, the artillery sure had wrecked havoc on this ancient township, and the Light Tanks captured the township. From there we moved up more Anzac Battalions from Bangkok and Singapore. The airfields are so much closer no.

Admiral Hollingsworth has rushed the repairs of the Prince of Wales and the Repulse, and they are back at sea, heading for a rendezvous near Borneo, When we have the airport on the Cambodian peninsula, the south china sea will be a little safer for our big boats, then they can assist in laying siege to the Jap occupied townships.

Chinese forces have continued to damage the Jap forces at the Nanning / Hong Kong parcel of land. We believe that this has severely hinder Jap in his efforts in trying to get through to assist his forces throughout Thailand.

I have attached an aerial view of Borneo, and Manila.

[ChrisiusMaximus]

Paddy this is fantastic stuff, please pass on my regards also to your comrade in the American command centre.

It feels so real at times

[Paddy]

Hi Chris, I am glad that you are enjoying it.

Yes, I too have noticed the realism component.

I believe that this is because this scenario is so close to home for dialetic2003 and myself. Literally being in our front yards so to speak, and with the battles having being fought be people who are still alive in our communities today.

Well sir, if you have enjoy the opening year, hold onto your boots, for we are about to take you on an adventure to JAPLAND... Hope you have your popcorn and coke ready....

[ChrisiusMaximus]

Sir yes Sir

Bring it on!!

[unscratchedfoot]

Yeah I agree. It felt so real that I found myself waving my arms about while reading, trying to swim out of the way of torpedoes.

Paddy the Scot, here's the link to the authentic units: http://www.cdgroup.org/forums/tbs/ci...orum.php?f=185

I'm looking forward to the big battle of Tokyo. Have a nice cool pint of dark brew.

[Paddy]

December 1942 TOP SECRET
From Allied Command Centre San Francisco America
To Allied Command Centre Sydney Australia

Reports received from the newly positioned TF Charlie demonstrate that further bombardment of Kwajalein is having little impact as there are few enemy forces left. TF Alpha and Bravo successfully shelled and bombed them back to hell, where they belong, over the last few weeks. Having isolated Kwajalein base as a naval threat to our supply and communication lines, TF Bravo made best speed to rendevous with TF Alpha and assist in the impending ground assault on the Truk island enemy garrison.

To that end, I ordered the ground troops waiting in transports with TF Alpha to land on the unopposed beaches to the West of the Japs, there to await preparatory shelling from the floating arsenal of democracy to the North before making their attack. The troops disembarked are as follows: 1st and 2nd Army GI regts (sold dependable attacking forces, but somewhat weak on the defence), supported by the 5th and 6th Lt Tank regt's (good firepower and mobility; but, again, not to be relied upon to hold ground), in order to stiffen these attacking forces it was deemed necessary to include some decent defensive troops in the form of the 4th and 22nd Machine Gun Bn's (great stopping power, but little mobility or attacking strength). These army formations have been well supplied with anti-aircraft cover from the menacing threat of jap fighters and bombers, in the form of the 3rd and 15th flak units. These troops are the first mainland USA contribution to the ground war in the Pacific and as such feel a great pride and honor in their place in this mammoth struggle, not to mention not wanting to let their Commonwealth, Dutch and Chinese allies down. Under the overall command of the seasoned and highly capable Army General J.T Jackson, these grunts, tankers and flakmen are champing at the bit to start getting their own back for the wanton aggression and merciless cruelty that has marked the Jap war effort against us and our allies.

Closer to the Asian mainland, and our ultimate objective - the Japanese home islands - there has been further progress made in preparing for an active defence of the South China Sea. We have just rolled down the Manila aerodrome runway the recently completed 1st squadron of the P-38 Ligtning Fighter Bombers, 'Satan's Angels' as they're somewhat strangely, but affectionately known by the airmen of that unit. These new aircraft, straight from a new prototype designed in part by Charles Lindbergh, should enable us to help defend our TFs inbound from the deep pacific against the significant Jap sea and air power in the region. In addition, when combined with the stealth and hitting power of the sub units in and around the Philipines we should have an able strike force for use against any stray flotillas the Japs have in the area. This sub force, though sorely missing the abilities of the SS Seawolf, will be strengthened by the sub we have under construction in the dry docks.

Due to the size of the Manila production facilities we can expect this fine addition to our naval assets in the region in the next few months. Also, though the time will be significantly greater in duration, the construction of an airport has been ordered for Kadet. This should help with the quick forward deployment of forces for use against the Jap held bases around the region.


December 1942 TOP SECRET
From East Coast Australia Allied Command Centre Sydney
To West Coast America Allied Command Centre San Francisco

Christmas 1942.

One year has passed. A year of bloodshed, swaet and many tears.

The drive for metals here in Australia continues. It is nothing short of amazing the amount of precious metals that have been willingly given up from the kitchens of this remote island nation. I recently attended a meeting held by the Australian Ministry of Supply. At this meeting were three of the heads of the major steel mills in this country. They discussed various fiqures and showed how the recycling of these donated metals has actually placed Australia two years ahead of steel production than if they had to allow for the resources to be removed from the ground.

In Lithgow, to the West of Sydney, an Armanents factory has been working 24 hours aday to get quailty waepons available for the Anzac troops that have been leaving their loved ones behind. Under licence they have produced some great arms, with a very small percentage of failure. When we toured the actory last month, I was quietly surprised to find that there were only three men in the whole facility. One is the boss, one is the gate keeper (and he is very elderly) and the last is a young lad in his early teens. He worked on a production line that packaged bullets. Yes the girls of this nation are involved in this war.

I am glad to see your new base coming into shape so quickly. My Anzac battalion in the outlying hills will withdraw in the coming month.

We are now on the outskirts of the Jap airbase... about time. They sent several bombers against up, I believe they must be shocked that not many made it home, our flak battalions may have worked hard, but they punched many holes into the Jap curtain across the sky.

The garrisons of Bangkok report Jap tanks and troops sneaking across the back hills. They are in for quite a shock, there are quite a few units sitting back there getting R&R after the sucessful operations of Bangkok and Pnom-Phen.

Another transporter is set to depart Darwin in the coming month. This convoy will bring more of our new tank to Singapore.

It is hoped that these tanks will roll into HongKong before Christmas of 1943.

We are now reseeding some of the outlieing islands with Anzac regulars. I had these islands stripped of all troops and rushed by destroyer and airlif to hold Singapore and Hong Kong. As I no loner fear to greatly for Singapore, and as I have quite a sizeable force on the road to Hong Kong, I feel that it is important to not leave these islands to the pain of Jap forces just arriving.

Looking forward to seeing you and your staff at the upcoming conference, and enjoy your New Years celebrations.

[ChrisiusMaximus]

superb, simply superb

[vovan]

Paddy, I don't know if it's the beer or what, but this is great. Keep it up - I'm hooked.