Dispatches from the Pacific

[Kaos XIII]

Men, this is one KICK A$$ story!!!

The screenshots are excellent, they really help in the visualization (sp?) of the story.

I want to see who gets to Tokyo first.

P.S. Next time, you two should go 'head to head', for our entertainment.

In that other story, I'm still waiting for quandfanatic and prince jason to get after each other.

[Paddy]

May 1943 TOP SECRET
From Allied Command Centre San Francisco America
To Allied Command Centre Sydney Australia

With the main objective for this month, the Jap base at Palau, firmly in our sights, I ordered the assembled might of TF Alpha and Bravo to begin its preparatory bombardment to damage and disrupt the dug-in defenders. Dutifully, the battleships Maryland and Pennsylvania, arranged in a hemispheric formation to the North and Northwest, unleashed a maelstrom of carnage aimed at the outposts and fortified emplacements surrounding the base. The gigantic ships rocked to and fro with each salvo fired, their big caliber turreted guns sending 400kg of steel encased high explosive whizzing toward the island and its unfortunate inhabitants. The airfield was hit 3 or 4 times in quick succession littering the area with the broken wings, cabins and fuselages of a score of Jap fighter-bombers unlucky enough to be caught on the ground. The Hvy. Cruisers Helena and Juneau both closed to within range and lent their armaments to the fray. Though much hell-fire and brimstone was displayed, and many craters sown across the tiny island, still the defenders remained and were ready for the onslaught that was to come. Some shells had gotten through to crack the outer casements of the largest defensive works, and its true that many of the Japs were dazed and some even wounded. None of the damage done, however, was on the scale that the fleet commander had promised in his brash pronouncements of the ease with which the ground troops might take the base. Regardless, the choice was made to proceed, there was still good reason to believe the ground attack would succeed. Indeed, this was the elite 6thLt tank regt leading the attack, doughty and dangerous on the offensive and strong was their mettle. The victors of Truk, as they were known to their proud comrades and brothers-in-arms, were only too eager to get the battle underway; to be that one step closer to the Jap home islands.

So, the order was issued to the 1st retribution battery to begin a final softening up of the enemy. After an hours shelling, the go code was sent to the forward companies of the 6thto begin their advance under the cover of a creeping barrage. Starting up the slight slope that led to the first line of Jap positions, the tankers ran into trouble. The creeping barrage was getting too far ahead, very little disruption could be expected amongst the forward elements of the enemy garrison. No matter, was the stalwart reply from the 5th’s commander, he knew his troops and had every reason to feel confident in their abilities. The progress was initially quite good. The 1st and 2nd battalions covered a lot of ground, indeed almost to the outer works of the last defensive line, the 3rd coming up the rear guarding against any surprise counter attacks. As the last of the 3rd bn.’s companies strove up into the penultimate line of defense, the Jap struck and struck hard. The Jap garrison’s veteran combat engineers had been detailed as the local anti-tank force and they sprung into action with tenacity and guile. They had allowed the tanks to proceed to within a hundred yards of the outer buildings of the Palau base and then closed the trap. In 2-3 man teams they darted from their hiding places behind rocks, under disguised bushes, and out of slit trenches, and attacked the suddenly unwieldy and lumbering tanks across the entire battlefield. Firing their devastating flamethrowers directly into the sight slits and air vents of the tanks, they knocked out all but 3 machines of the 1st and 2nd bn.’s. Desperately reaching for his radio, the commander of the 6thLt tanks never knew what hit him as a satchel charge - designed to blow a hole through 2 foot of concrete - literally vaporized the top half of his command vehicle, leaving only the tank treads, which were still smoking 2 days after the battle. The 3rd bn, bereft of their command and control and still confused as to the real extent of the damage done to their forward brethren, continued to fight on, savaging many of the enemy engineer teams when they shuffled and picked their way towards them.
As the 3rd bn, 6thLt tank regt fought the Jap combat engineers to a standstill, the 1st Infantry GI regt was making its way up the slope, cautious now as the sounds of a fierce battle raged ahead of them. They were behind schedule, there were problems with unit coordination and some soldiers had not reached their assigned jumping off positions until 5 minutes after they were due to begin their attack. As they reached the second defensive line a ghastly sight befell them, the 3rd bn. 6thLt tank regt was now down to a handful of machines and was fighting its way back down the slope toward them. The 1st Infantry GI charged forward in an effort to save the last of their tanker buddies, but it was to avail the 3rd bn not at all. For as the first of the supporting infantry moved into position to begin firing the last 4 tanks of the 3rd bn were simultaneously wrecked by enemy tank hunters. Though destroyed, the 6thhad mauled the attacking combat engineers. Combined with the tankers lethal fire, many of the engineers had sacrificed themselves to get their deadly payload onto the machines. Truly, the Kamikaze spirit was not solely airborne. The 1st Inf. GI regt, made relatively short work of the few remaining combat engineers, most of their grievous casualties coming from the unmarked anti-personnel minefield that swept their front.

The 2nd Inf GI regt made its way up the slope and its commander conferred with the 1st Inf GI CO. After confirming on where the mines were he determined to push on and strike for the base while the 1st covered its rear and made sure no further traps were sprung. Coming across the strewn wreckage of men and machines that was the battlefield, the 2nd Inf. cautiously crept forward. As they passed the furthest advance of 6thLt tank, the enemy machine guns opened fire. Scores of men fell, individually and in groups. The Jap MG’s had good fields of fire from dominating positions around the perimeter of the base. Cursing his lack of foresight, the CO 2nd Inf, a Col. Richardson, ordered his men to get down and crawl up to good firing positions. Fortunately there were plenty of craters for cover, at least the naval bombardment had done something right. Slowly but surely, the men of the 2nd Inf. picked off the Jap machine gunners one by one. Though seriously wounded, the CO managed to hold his men together and saw through the attack, silencing all opposition. He was almost going to give the order to move out and take the town, when he saw through his binoculars the enemy shuffling 20mm AA flak guns into position. He decided to retire and conserve his men rather than face this new threat now and risk complete annihilation. The battle of Palau was not yet over.

After receiving the report regarding the difficult situation on Palau, I ordered the battle group waiting in transports off the enemy held island of Guam to prepare for an attack. In line with my previously advised strategy, we made an attempt to take Guam before moving up to Saipan and investing the Jap base in the coming weeks.

The battleships Tennessee, Oklahoma and Arizona all opened fire on the previously US controlled island of Guam, severely damaging the two enemy units guarding the base. Intel on the enemy garrison here was much better owing to the mostly un-encoded Jap traffic that was sent between this base and Saipan. Because of this Intel we were fairly confident that the only units to be anticipated were the 2nd and the 4th Maizuru or marines. For once, everything went according to plan. The 3rd marines made an opposed amphibious assault but with true grit and some luck they destroyed their opponents without heavy cost. The 4th marines then landed and pushed on through their comrades holding the beach and attacked the much depleted 2nd Maizuru, the enemy was seriously overwrought by the weight of fire that both the bombardment and the landing forces dealt them. Within hours the whole assault was over. Our casualties, though not negligible, were certainly not on the scale that we have seen in the last few months. After taking and securing the base, we sent in the Hvy. Cruisers Honolulu and Chicago for repair work, their sister ship the CA Raleigh being sent to Manila, several engagements having seen them take heavy damage.

Our constant musing on the likely whereabouts and actions of the enemy fleet finally has an answer. On a routine scouting mission near the Jap home islands, the SS Bonefish wired back a report stating that the core of the Jap fleet had been spotted off the coast of Okinawa. Obviously detailed to protect the home waters, the unexpended might of the Imperial Japanese Navy seems to be assembled over a twenty or so nautical mile zone to the NE of Okinawa’s shores, between it and Komi. I have enclosed an aerial shot for your perusal. Though tempted to try his luck for a sneak attack, I sent immediate orders to fall back and simply keep tabs on the enemy’s movements, I can’t afford to lose any more good submariners.


May 1943 TOP SECRET
From East Coast Australia Allied Command Centre Sydney
To West Coast America Allied Command Centre San Francisco

Hue has fallen, but we ask, can we hold it?

Our forces, around Hue, have traveled and battled very hard throughout these western areas. Have we gone too quickly? It is now June, my forecasts were to be in Hong Kong by December, and at this rate we could be there much quicker. Yet my concerns are that we just may lose much we have gained by overextending our selves on this treacherous road.

Gen B Scott is once again to be commended for his use of draftees in such battles. like a wizened chess master he has juggled experience with green youth, new fantastic weapons with the trusted Lee Enfield .303, modern fighter squadrons with dirt strips dug from the raw jungle. The victor of Malaya has become the victor of South East Asia. If all does go to plan, I have confidence that he will become one of the Victors of China. I have him again in dispatches to you, the King, and the Prime Ministers of Australia and New Zealand. If the mighty Breaker was still alive, I am sure that he would be writing poems of this mighty general.

The battle of Hue opened up with a mass of artillery rgts. Then various Anzac battalions moved up to the edge of the city. From here a few machine gun battalions entered the fray, then Colonel Barrett and the Flying Wagga Light Tanks moved in from the surrounding Jungles, this sealed the fate of Hue. Colonel Barrett had only one request, more Japs. Many of the Anzac battalions were severely mauled in this battle, and our medic teams have set up a mighty tent city to assist these warriors along the roads south of Hue. To this end more draftees have been rushed into Hue to strengthen the defences, and all flak units are now in Hue. we await the wrath of Jap.

Sibu, our two fighter squadrons have again bombarded the Jap base on Davao. Much to the amusement of these lads, when not on operational standby, they have been billeted with Crown Prince Samsa Jimbangorjo of the Borneose Royal Family. I have received glowing reports of how his family has treated my men. somewhere downstairs, I believe that we even have one of his sons visiting our staff. The Crown Prince sent via his son, a shipment of gold and silver to buy more planes. We graciously received enough money to rush build an entire fighter bomber squadron. In honour of the Crown Prince, we have struck a new squadron in our books, "The Sibu 19th Squadron". This squadron is being sent to Sibu as its first base of operations.

And it is almost fortuitous that they are, for just this very morning the radio came alive from our island spotters in Borneo. Another Jap fleet has sailed up to Kudat, and landed two full battalions of Jap para's. Next month I will throw my fighters against them, then unleash my two battalions of Anzac Infantry that is garrisoned at Sibu. They will not have more bases in this area.

I am a little concerned with all of these Jap Paras coming in via transport ship, what happens if they have airports and aircraft available for them to function as they should? What real havoc could they cause us in the months ahead?

The Jap fleet to the south of Donggala moved into the harbour, much to the amusement of Admiral Peterson. The fleet’s bombardment continued and massive damage was inflicted on Jap, without one shot returned. So instead of moving onto Davao, our fleet sits in the Donggala waters and continues to bombard the Jap fleet. Meanwhile Dutch infantry has moved up to the outskirts and may move against the town next month.

I have had the operational school at "Duntroon" turned into a massive war games room. The currant batch of officer candidates, their teachers, several senior officers on my staff, and some very learned gentlemen, who have a vaste knowledge of south east Asia, are war gaming every scenario on the information that is available. I am so glad that Duntroon is so far removed from the coast, and we can literally seal the school up. So many secrets, so so many secrets all in the one place. I had to fly in to Canberra recently for a meeting with the Minister of War. I took that opportunity to visit Duntroon, gave the chaps a bit of encouragement, and let them know how valuable I am finding the research that the war games are providing. To think that many of these young men will be on these battle fields in the coming months and years, this training can be very helpful to them in comprehending the bigger picture, understanding how the senior staff must look beyond the end of the barrel sometimes.

At this time I must bring up a disturbing fact, in November 1941 the Australian Federal Government ordered the Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS) to investigate claims that espionage activities were being conducted in Australia. In the last 7 weeks it has been revealed that there were a few fifth-column radio transmitters being used to transmit military information back to Japan. These transmitters are now in our hands, and all but one of the culprits have been rounded up. They had been mainly set up in the state of Queensland, on Australia’s north east coast.

And then we come to Douglas, he was to board the transporter that we had waited several weeks for him, oh that man is made of brass. Instead he has boarded his personal B17 “Bataan” and flown directly to Pt Moresby. He then did not have the transport await the destroyers that were sent to cover it, nor would he follow any of my orders relating to these troops of this transporter. So the transporter has left Darwin harbour and already taken a new course. To add further to this matter we have received a coded message from Pt Moresby to say that the transporter is operating under radio silence.

Yet it continues, while in Pt Moresby Gen Douglas Macarthur has reorganized the entire Rest and Re-Organization procedure for my troops. The base has started massive works with more R&R facilities of all things. My understanding is that our major R&R area is being moved from Townsville to Pt Moresby. Quite an excellent idea, quite a cost saving endeavour, all quite outside of any orders he has. Yet when my staff looks over what he has done, they find no fault in any of it, other then not telling us.

Yet all of this can be lived with, what really has gotten under my skin is that he has disembarked a light tank rgt from the transporter, an embarked an elite Anzac Commando Battalion. I await word of where this ship is next seen, if ever it is.

I quietly had gone along with everything until I heard this, here I drew the line, and here I wanted his head on a pole outside my office yesturday. And here I got the news that set me to laughing so long and so loud that my staff is still walking a tad strangely around me. You see, after rearranging so much, after really getting under my skin, Douglas is reported to have walked to his plane, boarded it, turned, saluted those who had gathered and then flown off. Off where you may well ask, well off north, north to get the Jap.

[Paddy]

Please see advised intel regarding core of IJN.

[Paddy]

Note: heavy presence of DD's preclude stealth attack by US Sub

[ChrisiusMaximus]

Superb

[Paddy]

June 1943 TOP SECRET
From Allied Command Centre San Francisco America
To Allied Command Centre Sydney Australia

After several weeks of relative inactivity on the naval front, the recent Intel from the SS Bonefish provided some further direction to the movement of our campaign. Now knowing where the heart of the enemy’s naval capacity lay, I set about reorganizing the TF’s for their continued push into the heart of the euphemistically titled Greater East Asian Co-Prosperity sphere. The combined TFs Alpha and Bravo were to remain permanently grouped as the main instrument of our attack. The old TF Charlie, with the addition of the battleship Tennessee from the main group for close in bombardment and support missions, was to form the swing group in case reinforcement was needed for the main fleet; or, in a worst case scenario, to steam to the assistance of our outlying islands.

Reviewing the situation at the start of June, 1943, I noticed a Jap battleship was steaming SE from the vicinity of Aparri, in the Nth of the Philippines, and was making good speed directly toward our main fleet. Its purpose unknown, I ordered the SS Bonefish to scout behind the enemy vessel to ascertain if any further enemy flotillas were nearby. Apparently not in close support, there was an enemy fleet about 2 weeks full speed due North, consisting of 2 hvy. Cruisers, a destroyer, and the veteran carrier Hiryu. This was a disconcerting development. If this presaged the whole of the Imperial Japanese Navy’s remaining carrier elements making a move to the South, my previous plans of sealing the fate of the Southwest pacific islands first was in danger of leaving my flank wide open to attack. I ordered SS Bonefish to stay his distance and not to engage, preferring to await the imminent arrival of the SS Bluefish, the Batfish and the Trout in the area. The combined attack potential of these 4 subs was worth waiting for, especially if this could be the Northern wing of the trap that was now forming in my mind’s eye. I decided to bypass the Davao - Donggala - Tenate triangle and move my main fleet northwest. I ordered the fleet to move only slowly, however, as I wanted to be the aggressor in any first strike that was going to take place. Taking advantage of the battleship’s lack of air cover, I ordered the 1st heavy bomber, out of the recently re-conquered Guam airbase, and the 8th and 17th torpedo bomber squadrons, from the Saratoga and the Enterprise respectively, to attack. The results were spectacular. All 3 attacks succeeded in striking the enemy vessel. Soon, the only activity evident on-deck was the rafts being lowered in an effort to abandon the dying ship. Satisfied with this turn in developments I could cast my eye to other parts of the situation map in my office, such as the tiny, but pivotal, island of Palau.

After the horrific contest of the previous few weeks on the Eastern edges of Palau, what once were grasslands, gently ebbing and rolling down to the seashore, had been transformed into a quagmire of broken ground, twisted metal and shattered men. The CO of the 2nd Inf. Regt., Colonel Richardson, determined to finish the misadventure that had chewed up both the island and his comrades. His was now the sole offensive unit capable of taking the base, and he wasn’t even sure if it was up to the task. His casualty lists from the first attack, compiled after all the stragglers had come stumbling into camp, had shown that the 2nd had lost just over a third of its fighting troops in that one encounter with the jap machine gunners. He considered his unit lucky compared to the results from the 1st regt.’s own casualty enquiry; they were all but wiped out, having lost almost two thirds of their full complement. Leaving the 1 serviceable battalion from the 1st Inf. behind to guard the camp, the men from the 2nd Inf. moved back up the slope to their assigned area, ready to begin the attack after the artillery and the fleet had finished making more craters. This time, however, the bombardment was much more effective. Over half the flak guns defending the perimeter of the enemy’s base were destroyed by the pre-registered fire of the hvy. Cruisers guns. Though the 1st Inf. did take significant losses from the Jap’s artillery battery, their actual assault on the town was remarkably successful. As it is, both of the GI units will require extensive reinforcement and R&R before they will be ready for further combat operations. That didn’t seem to matter much to the men though, their only thought was of jubilation that the trial was over, they had won. Palau was ours. To add to the strategic value that the base represented to our wider war effort, a battery of the Jap’s artillery guns was captured and promptly renamed the 2nd retribution battery, a solid addition to this battle groups tactical repertoire.

Over in the Philippines meanwhile, there was a sudden rise in the tension amongst both the civilians and the garrison. The japs had sent a body of Lt. tanks onto the offensive; they were streaming south and had reached the line of hills that overlook Manila. Determining that this was a fine opportunity to prove that offense is the best defense, I ordered the men of the 192nd Lt. tank regt. to prepare for a counterattack. Before they engaged the enemy, I requested fire support from the Manila garrison artillery battery. Watching with some small amount of satisfaction, the local area commander Major General L. Wayne reported on the effectiveness of the fire for the artillery, correcting and providing the grid reference calls to the battery. This allowed the 192nd to close to well within cannon range, their 37mm guns opening large swathes in the enemy’s ranks. Trading fire, at one point only yards separating the two tank formations, the japs eventually conceded defeat and tried to withdraw in good order. The 192nd wouldn’t have any of that. With General Wayne exhorting over the radio, the US tanks simply rode over their slower and less well-armored opponents. The smoking hulks and upturned carcasses of the enemy tanks standing in silent witness to the defeat of this latest jap effort on Manila; its job done, the 192nd turned for home. They returned to a rapturous welcome, the few tanks they had lost soon to be replenished.

For your information regarding future operations, I have just disembarked a small unit of GI’s, the 5th Inf. regt., on the North shore of the Puerto Princess isle off Manila. This is simply to act as a diversion from the jap effort on Kudat. Unfortunately, the destroyer DD Laffey was unable to reach Borneo to reinforce, but may over the coming weeks. Of greater importance, I have landed a large contingent of tanks, marines and combat engineers on Saipan and will make an assault next month. I have included 2 of the new medium tank regt.’s in this attack force and feel quite confident of success.

My fervid apologies for the behavior of Gen. Macarthur. He really is an irascible, headstrong fellow. Sometimes he exceeds the limits of his authority, and at other times provides a strong and inspiring presence. A Pandora’s box I must agree and now you see the reason why I had him sent to you, and away from me. My advice is give him the fuel and let him fly at the japs, maybe they can use him.



June 1943 TOP SECRET
From East Coast Australia Allied Command Centre Sydney
To West Coast America Allied Command Centre San Francisco

Admiral Peterson and his Task Force 35 have bombarded the Jap fleet in Donggala one last time. I am happy to announce that a Battleship, a transporter and a destroyer are now on the bottom of that harbour. There are other ships in the harbour, but we are unable to determine exactly what damage was caused to these ships, due to the high level of smoke across the horizon.

From Donggala, TF 35 has now sailed on Davao. Here General Collins landed 1 Anzac Battalion, 2 Light Tank Battalion’s, 1 Medium Tank Battalion, and a Flak Battalion in the hills west of Davao. As you read this the barrels of our fleet will be bombing the Jap garrison and any occupying forces at the Davao base. It is my quiet prayer that the Jap air forces in the area are sufficiently depleted or engaged otherwise at this time, as I do not have a great air cover available for the fleet.

Artillery units are now setting up and bombarding Hue as you read this. Gen Scott has taken my concerns of last month on board, and refitted many of his Battalions. The push on Hanoi will begin in the coming months. I am glad that he waited, for just as I write this report, several ships have been spotted steaming into Hanoi. They included at least one Battleship, and at least one transporter. When the rest of Gen Scotts artillery is in place, I would not like to be on board one of those ships.

Colonel Barrett of the Flying Wagga Light Tanks recently flew home to of all places Wagga Wagga for some much deserved R&R. As Wagga is but a stones throw from Canberra, we had him over to the Ministry to shake some hands, meet some Members of Parliament, and spend a few hours with the press. He is a charming chap. I have quite a mind to keep him around, the quiet hero by all means, a farmer by trade, grows some sheep and pumpkins if I remember correctly. When I asked him how he found it to be back home, he looked up at me with a serious concentrated look and let me know that he would not really be home until his boys were back in their own barracks in Wagga. For only when the job is finished can he really come home. At this time I knew that he was best left in the field, that to remove him from his battalion would not be a good thing for anyone.

Kudat and those Jap Para’s. Three fighter Squadrons laid into them, with possible little effect. Then the Anzac Battalions moved back into the foothills to the southwest of Kudat. At the word of Colonel Harlequin, they charged the Jap Para’s, and wiped them back into the South China Sea.

Only two concerns from this endeavour, 1) I have no troops in Sibu, 2) From the foot hills my men could see two Jap Destroyers and a transporter on the horizon. Yet that is the gamble of war.

Back here in Canberra, Agent Leonie Murphy of the Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS) has taken up a post on my permanent staff. Which I must admit ruffled quite a few feathers with my Naval Intelligence Liaison Officer. Yet both the Air Force and Army Intelligence Liaison Officers have hardly said a word about the matter. This could possibly have to do with my lunching with Agent Murphy regularly. ASIS are quite an amazing agency. They saw the coming of this war quite sometime ago. And in the face of much opposition they quietly proceeded to set some assets in place. I am not to tell you much, even in this secure dispatch, but to say that we now have an active asset in the Japanese Army Air Force command Structure. This asset has only just been called back to Imperial HQ from the field. It seems that there have been a few heads literally chopped off over the loses in South Eastern Asia. This has lead to rapid advancement of officers that should have been waiting many years. This is good news for us. I do not know who this person is, I do not know why this person is our asset, all I know is that we have this asset, and that Agent Murphy presents it to my officers.

As you may beware our enemy has a very strict sense of honour, of Bushido. So much of the elite officer corps believe that they still belong to the ancient samurai code. I believe that you need to be aware that the Japanese air corps is talking of training a new style of pilot, a pilot that will give the ultimate sacrifice of his life for the Honour of his emperor and the honour of his people. I do not fully comprehend this matter, nor do I understand the way that this will pan out if it is ever brought into play. But I do not like the sound of it, and believe that you need to know about it. To this end, I have organized two Air Force Intelligence Officers to fly to San Francisco tonight with as much information as we have available, barring anything that points to the agent or the agents handlers. I hope that your specialists are able to make good use of this information.

And again we come to General Douglas Macarthur, born to a General of the American Civil War on January 26,1880, and to possibly live forever. I do believe that the Man is indestructible. He has been very busy since he flew out of Pt Moresby. I have a report that the very next day he lunched with the Dutch Women’s of the Far East Association in Koepang, an island to the north of Darwin. I have here a letter from His Excellency the Dutch Governor of Banjermasin, south west of Sibu. His Excellency “commends Douglas for his tireless efforts in keeping unity and understanding between our grand nations.” Really just! Next he spent two days in Sibu, at the palace of the Crown Prince Samsa Jimbangorjo of the Borneose Royal Family. I am not sure what transpired here, but the ‘Bataan’ flew into Darwin during this time with a large shipment of precious gems. There was also a request that this be put towards a new Machine Gun battalion, and could they be airlifted to Sibu, or Bangkok ASAP. It is my understanding that he will be exchanging a unit on the Transporter for the Machine Gun Battalion. Yet where this exchange is to take place, and when are questions that have my team baffled.

I have read that he was the Superintendent of West Point Military Academy between 1919 and 1922; did you or any of your staff ever have him through this time? I can only imagine the caliber of officer he wanted to graduate.

I am almost breathless just getting his journey down in this dispatch, net alone doing it all. But there is more. Those year as your Army Chief of Staff in the 30’s really left there mark on this man. I see only too often the mark of his four stars. Admiral, I am very curious, how many stars do you have left in your cupboard? Douglas can really build something out of nothing. From Sibu, he next showed up for a few days in Singapore. During this time 3 new units were drafted and on their way to the front. From the numerous efforts of Gen Scott, I did not believe that the City State of Singapore could raise enough people to fill a pub, but Douglas and his team spend scant hours there, and suddenly three, yes three Battalions were formed, fitted out and on trains to the front. You know, I honestly believe he and his transporter will take the Philippines before the rest of us are even ready.

He then flew into Saigon, for another whistle stop. Reports say there was cheering in the streets even hours after he had left. Again I am not sure where the ‘Bataan’ has taken him, and yet I am at peace with these facts.

I would not be surprised to get a call from the Emperor of Japan, letting me know that Douglas was there, and that they had signed a peace treaty, then had raked a garden together.

[ChrisiusMaximus]

Brilliant!! Just Brilliant!! I love the touches of humour they really add to the story

Great job with the battle descriptions too

[vovan]

Keep 'em coming. This is coming along nicely.

[Paddy]

The Daily News…
2 July 1943 the people paper

Townsville, QLD. Australia Army troops today took into custody three Japanese Naval men. These men had been spotted on a beach to the south of the Army base. At this time information is scarce, but we will endeavour to bring you as much as we can.

This is one of the first sightings of Jap on the mainland, and we wonder are we really ready???

see page 2 for more on this event

[Paddy]

The Daily News…
4 July 1943 the people paper

TODAY US GENERAL DOUGLAS MACARTHUR VISITED PEARCE, WESTERN AUSTRALIA.

HERE HE CELEBRATED THE US HOLIDAY OF THE 4TH OF JULY WITH

THE PERSONNEL OF NO 14 SQUADRON

see page 4 for more of the event

[Paddy]

The Daily News…
7 July 1943 the people paper

Canberra, ACT. US General Douglas MacArthur, visiting Canberra, was invited to sit at the right of the speaker, Mr Nairn, in the House of Representatives at Parliament House. He stayed for 55 minutes. In front of the Government benches, sitting at the table (left of centre) is John Curtin, the Prime Minister of Australia.

General MacArthur was thanked for the recent loans from the American people to assist in the Australian War efforts.

see page 5 for more on this event

[ChrisiusMaximus]

nice piccies

[unscratchedfoot]

The story is good, keep the goods coming. That's an odd picture of the bomber dropping all the cluster bombs and why is Macarther doing such a feminine pose in the middle of the courtroom? He looks like he's trying to model women's spring fashion.

I wish I could write so verbosely as you. I'm hopelessly addicted to online chess, especially the one minute stuff.

[Paddy]

July 1943 TOP SECRET
From Allied Command Centre San Francisco America
To Allied Command Centre Sydney Australia

The tide felt like it was finally turning in our favour. After almost 20 months of tireless struggle against the land of the rising sun, the progress reports coming in from our forward elements continued to show that our campaign was going from strength to strength. The forward deployment of men and material went on unabated, transport ships trailing just to the rear of the two fleets composing the forward arc of the combat zone. With Truk, Kwajalein, Palau and now Guam falling to our valiant troops, the writing was on the wall for Japanese imperial ambitions in the deep pacific. Now the question turned on the future of the main fleet's movement into the dark heart of the Japanese empire. No further southward movement by the core of the IJN carrier fleet being detected by the prowling SS Bonefish, near the straits off Okinawa, the decision was made to continue on our Northwesterly course in an effort to close to within our bomber squadron’s strike range. This allied with the further concentration of subs near the SS Bonefish and the return to active of the Hvy. cruisers Honolulu and Chicago, allowed the main fleet commander, Adm. King, a certain security in his fleet formation and progress planning. Perhaps the enemy was hesitant as to the final destination of our mighty assembled battle fleet. Perhaps he was conserving forces for his continued push against the Chinese on the mainland. Who could tell how his mind worked, all I knew is that he wasn't making a move to the South, yet.

While the main fleet was making its way slowly and cautiously up the Phillipine coast, ever watchful for the dreaded enemy air and sea power; the sailors, soldiers and airmen of TF Charlie were energetically purposeful, readying for the assault on Saipan. The attack had been in the planning and preparation stage for several weeks, thousands of men, machines and stores being loaded from the fleet and unloaded on the beaches of Saipan's southwest. An amphibious assault on Saipan's Eastern approaches had been contemplated, but ultimately rejected as potentially too costly considering how little we knew of the enemy garrison and its dispositions. What we did know was that the enemy had abandoned the grasslands to the southwest as being too open to being cut off, its long neck jutting out into the Pacific. Though the island was surrounded on all sides by coral, the cleverly designed LVT's were able to negotiate to the shore, due to their shallow draught, and deposit their precious cargo directly onto the empty beach just south of the town of Charan Kanoa. The topography of the island lent itself easily to the defence; a rugged, forested mountain chain running like a spine down the centre, surrounded on all but the south western side by tall sharp hills, ridges and cliffs. The entire island was dominated by the towering 1,554 foot tall Mt. Tapotchau, upon which the Japanese commander, General Saito, had dug in his command post. The Japanese had been in control of the Marianas island of Saipan for decades and they had wasted no time in developing the defensive potential of the ground to a keen edge.

When all was ready amongst the ground forces, the radio transmission came to Adm. Spruance on the bridge of his flagship, the battleship Tennessee, to open fire. Much attention had been paid to the aerial reconnaissance obtained prior to the battle, showing the vast system of earthworks, pill-boxes and trench systems the Japanese had wrought into the island’s 14 mile long frame. Unlike previous bombardments however, the extent of shells expended and the duration of the actual barrage was minimal. Not only was greater emphasis placed on the surprise element of the actual attack, the evidence from the aerial shots suggested that the garrison was not very substantial anyway. The army should have no trouble quickly kicking this rotten edifice in, was the commonly held view, at least amongst the sailors standing comfortably 6 miles offshore. Due in part to reduced scale of the preparatory bombardment, but also to the fact that the ships could not fire with pinpoint accuracy what they could not see over 10,000 yards from the shoreline – being afraid of enemy sea mines further in, the effect on the defenders was not heavy. Certainly, some of the larger fortifications were blasted to bits by the heavy shells of the navy’s largest guns, and the town of Charan Kanoa was destroyed in its entirety, but the large number of japs lying unseen in their caves, dugouts, fox holes and tenches were not damaged to any great extent. For this the army preparing to attack was to pay a heavy price.

While the bombardment raged, General Holland ‘Mad’ Smith, the army commander in charge of the land combat forces, laid out the plan of attack for his subordinate officers. ‘First off the rank will be the 1st Med. Tank regt., ably assisted by the 3rd combat engineer battalion. We need these boys to clear a path through the initial defensive belts so that we can swing the 10th Lt Tank, 6th and 8th Marine regts, in the second wave, North and East and thus clear the island’s extremities prior to investing the main jap base on Mt. Tapotchau. The 7th marine, 2nd Med Tank and 4th combat engineers will be in reserve. Any questions?’ No reply forthcoming, the officers and their staffs went to their respective units to finish disseminating their orders for the coming offensive. When the silhouette of the firing battleships and cruisers had faded into the darkness of the pre-dawn sky, the 1st Med Tank regt. rumbled into life and began to move out, accompanied by the 3rd combat engineers.

The initial going was slow, engineers carefully checking the ground ahead for any minefields or tank traps. Soon, however, the commander of the 1st Med Tank, a rough and hot-headed long time cavalry officer from the First world war by the name of Colonel Sanderford Jarman, had had jack of the interminably slow plodding and determined to strike forth and try to find the blasted japs. He ordered his men to hit the throttle and assume a wide formation to comb the area for any enemy. In the early hours of that hot, humid July morning, he was unaware of the vast and intricate system of defences his men were about to stumble into. Had he been so aware he probably would have waited for the engineers, struggling to keep up. Probably. As it is, the first he knew of the hornets nest he had stuck his and his troops’ heads into was when the 1st bn CO radioed that there was a large AT minefield to his front and that several machines had already been disabled or destroyed. When Col. Jarman ordered his right and left wing to probe for an opening, they too reported a seemingly impenetrable array of mines to their front. Sweat beginning to trickle down his brow, both from the heat and his dawning disobedience of a direct order, he resigned to await the combat engineers to clear his front and allow him to continue the attack. As the 3rd engineers began their thankless and dangerous mission, the waiting japs opened fire with light and heavy MG’s from concealed positions on the ridges surrounding the road. ‘Ambush!’ Col. Jarman radioed back to General. Smith, ‘we have large numbers of enemy pinning down our supporting engineers, will engage.’ He brought up the M4 Sherman Close Support tanks attached to his HQ Co. When they could see and pinpoint their targets, the 105mm cannons firing HE were devastatingly effective. Strong points were eliminated, cave entrances were demolished, clattering machine guns silenced. While the CS tanks opened fire, the long-barrelled 75’s of the regular M4 Shermans joined the fray, shelling every crevice and shadow they could locate, just to make sure there weren’t any japs lurking in the darkness. The smoke created by the incessant firing of the tanks main armaments was stifling and almost completely obscured the road ahead, something of a positive development Col. Jarman thought. The engineers were then able to resume clearing a path for the tanks through the minefield, giving the thumbs up to the lead tank officer of the 1st bn when they had finished.

As the Shermans began to file through the opening, the lead tank suddenly exploded, flames shooting to the sky while the turret span off, tragically beheading the commander and two engineers of the 1st Co, 3rd bn. After a further 3 tanks had tried in vain to get through the thick, acrid haze surrounding the cleared path, with nothing but another 3 wrecks to show for their efforts, the combat engineers regrouped and tried to find another path through the minefield. Chaos reigned in that little pocket of ground as men scurried here and there trying to isolate the source of the deadly fire while clearing a new path. Finally, a Sherman crept through the new opening. While scanning the surrounding ridges for the unknown enemy, the tank crew were shocked by a tremendous crash of metal on metal as the jap crew of the suddenly revealed 47mm AT gun to their far left hastily tried to reload. The Sherman had defied its nickname - the Ronson, after the high profile and tendency to ignite of the Ronson lighter - and survived a direct hit just below the turret line. Not allowing the japs any time, the tank turret swivelled and a gout of flame erupted from the cannon. An instant later an explosion signalled the end of the lone AT gun.

After a further 2 hours were spent clearing the nearby countryside of the debilitating AT minefield, the advance was able to resume. Only then were the tankers and engineers able to see the results of the previous fire fight, craters and a pockmarked ridgeline the extent of their endeavours. A platoon of enemy machine gunners and a lone AT gun were able to hold up the advance for nearly 4 hours. Col. Jarman took note, during the rest of their advance the tankers and engineers were to work as a combined unit, clearing the enemy and the defensive works together. The combat engineers were perfectly equipped to deal with the myriad of ways the japs utilised to defend themselves, satchel and pole charges, bangalore torpedoes and the deadly flamethower were all put to good use in clearing out the japs from every nook and cranny. Though perfectly equipped, they were still but flesh and blood and the jap snipers were taking a heavy toll. As the tanks and engineers moved onward, clearing a path through the first 3 major defensive belts, bringing them right up to the foothills of the rugged Mt. Tapotchau, they were exposed to more and more defilade fire from the North and East. To these objectives the marines of the 6th and 8th regts strode with a determined ‘Semper Fi’ attitude and a cunning methodical approach. Encountering only raw, drafted japs that revealed their inexperience by launching banzai charges, which were easily defeated in the dwindling twilight, the marines completed their objectives before nightfall.

Now only the centre of the enemy line remained, the imposing mountain seemingly mocking them as the last light of day left its topmost crags. It was too late to continue. Fumbling around in the dark only gave the japs an advantage, their unit’s stealth and preference for hand-to-hand engagements ideally suited to night fighting. So, the tankers and engineers prepared for an uneasy night, many of them seeing the irony in now laying their own wire and digging their own fox holes, in this sea of jap defensive works. If they saw the irony, they also knew its value, none wanted to be caught in the open without shelter should the japs gamble on one last throw of the dice and make a night counter attack. And gamble they did.

The first anybody knew of the onslaught was when the first ‘very’ light hit the sky and the staccato of a .30 cal MG opened up in the 3rd bn’s front. During the early hours of the evening, the 7th Lt tank was brought up to reinforce the much depleted ranks of the 1st Med tank regt and the 3rd bn holding the centre of the line, the marines guarding either flanks. Unbeknownst to General Smith however, a miscommunication between the engineers and the neighbouring 7th resulted in a 500 yard gap being formed in the line. Probing by jap forward scouts had revealed this weakness and against it General Saito hurled several thousand of his drafted Nipponese soldiers. With a shrill cry ‘BANZAI!’ the inexperienced, but valiant bushido warriors surged onto the main line. Though they were taking a hammering from the emplaced tank’s cannon and machine guns and the combat engineers own complement of .30 cals, the teeming horde of jap infantrymen continued on, their menacing shapes dancing under the very lights and casting fear into the heart of even the most hardened warrior. The vast multitude belying the previous low estimates of the garrison’s strength, General Smith immediately called up his reserve and threw the 4th combat engineers in to fill the gap. The fighting was close and horrific, hand-to-hand encounters swirling back and forth across the entire front of the line’s centre. Bayonet, knife, shovel and pickaxe were thrust, jabbed and swung at the opponent. This suddenly intimate and hate filled struggle could be measured in terms of the yard in front of a man’s face. No longer did the abstract concept of miles between objectives and waypoints have any meaning. The determination to survive of the troops involved was all that mattered, tanks and machine guns suddenly rendered useless bystanders. Over the course of the next 3-4 hours the battle raged, all the while the company holding the extreme flank of the 3rd bn could hear the fierce fight not a hundred yards from its outposts, but did nothing. The situation looked bleak twice through the night, and twice the soldiers and marines destroyed the enemy rampaging through the second line, eventually exhausting his supply of troops. After the night was over and the dead counted, General Smith took stock of the situation. The tanks and engineers had managed to hold the line, but only just. The 1st Med tank regt was effectively destroyed, only 2 tanks of the HQ platoon operational. The 3rd bn was reduced to that one Co., its commander, was dismissed and its troops evacuated to be reinforced. The unit was renamed because of its dreadful performance during the night attack, endangering the whole army.

When the attack continued in the afternoon of the following day, the army finally could survey the huge sweep of land in their front that was literally covered by dead japs. It was a sickening sight. Sometimes piled up to the 4 deep, sometimes more, the enemy had expended over 3 thousand young lives in a monumental attempt to swamp the soldiers of the invading army. That they did not succeed was not a forgone conclusion, the first line had been breached and the rear areas attacked. But the end result was clear, the japs had little to stand in the way of the attacking land forces now. The remaining operations involved little more than mopping up the flak guns and the few remaining MG’s. The only casualties taken were some tanks of the 7th regt destroyed by artillery fired over open sights. When the tankers, soldiers and marines eventually captured the enemy HQ on Mt. Tapotchau, they found General Saito dead by his own hand, along with most of his HQ staff. The troops were victorious and rushed to ensure their complete control of the island. When some marines from the 6th regt reached the most northerly area, Marpi point, they were greeted by a singularly grisly find. Some 2000 of the island’s civilians, mostly Japanese women and children, had committed mass suicide to avoid capture by our supposedly brutal and inhuman troops. Many were so traumatised by this encounter that they had to be listed as section 8 and sent back to the US for counselling. War is indeed hell.

With Saipan firmly in our grasp, and the new airfields there being prepared for the hvy bomber squadrons. I can relate to you the various other important developments in our campaign. Our force landed on Puerto Princess last month, the 5th Inf regt., was astoundingly successful in their recon in force of the garrison there. Noticing only flak guns guarding the approaches to the town, the CO requested permission to attack. I assented and he went on to outdo my modest expectations in taking the town at a quick trot, without even significant artillery support. After the above report on the attack on Saipan this lightened my mind considerably.

The only other significant issues to advise of are: 1) the lend lease gold loan has been approved and should be already in Canberra for your disposal in aiding the Commonwealth war effort. 2) the blue-prints for the latest prototype jet engines have been included in this shipment, I suspect you will find them most interesting and valuable. 3) as this is a secure link, I have been authorised to inform you that we are about to embark on the development of a new type of energy, one with much potential as a destructive weapon. I can’t say more (as I don’t know all about it), except to say we will be starting work on the ‘Manhattan Project’ in this next month and expect this to drastically reduce the term of this dreadful war.

Good work on the placement of your agent in the upper echelons of the Japanese high command, this development could prove pivotal to our understanding of the enemy’s coming moves. As for Gen. MacArthur; yes, we know of his time at the United States Military Academy, he was credited with broadening the curriculum and raising the status of the Army's "trade school" to academic levels equal to those of non-military colleges and universities. I personally never had dealings with the man during his tenure there, but I have heard great things from my younger subordinates who did. The highest rank a US General can attain is the 5-star rank and I am unable to find someone who is more deserving than Gen. D. MacArthur. Well, maybe Gen. O Bradley or Gen. D Eisenhower, but that’s it, he’s definitely right up there


'July 6 1943: LST unloading some of the men and material in the lead up to the battle of Saipan'

[Paddy]

July 1943 TOP SECRET
From East Coast Australia Allied Command Centre Sydney
To West Coast America Allied Command Centre San Francisco

The bombardment of Hanoi was quite an eruption of earth and Jap’s. Not to be held back, ‘The Flying Wagga Light Tanks’ roared off across the rice fields, accompanied by the ‘Brumby Jack’s Light Tanks’. We believe that they smashed all but one unit of Jap flak troops. It was reading the report of this incident that I wished for more tanks in the region. Am I truly getting greedy? I have moved many troops up to assist, as you will see from the accompanying map of that region.

With the artillery to continue their bombardment, the tankers just may take Hanoi, otherwise the infantry is another month away.

And leading the charge, newly promoted Major General Charles Barrett, 45th Tankers Regiment, 7th Anzac Army, China, against all odds, yet could he really be held back, for as a Colonel the day before he would have lead the charge. General B. Scott tells me that General Barrett was quite happy to lose the emblem to keep his Battalion, and thus lead the charge. They are his lads after all. The promotion was long over due for this valiant warrior. General B. Scott may have taken him from his personal Battalion, ‘The Flying Wagga Light Tanks’, but he has not taken the Battalion from him.

Spurred on by this victory to the south, once again the commander of the Hong Kong garrison sent forth several Battalions to knock on the gates of Canton. And I am not too surprised to tell you that Jap has dug himself quite a hole there. Well in a few short months all of Gen. B. Scott’s Artillary Rgts will also knock on Canton’s door.

Task Force 35 laid quite a bombardment on the base of Davao, the reports show quite a mess was created. Then General Collins lead his troops down into the town… To surmise, Davao is ours, and they are partying in Davao this week.
Admiral Peterson had the Heavy Cruiser Canberra disengage from the Task Force and head back over to Donggala. The Canberra laid on quite a night show, and added more damage to a Jap Battleship that was under some sort of repairs. I have some interesting radio photos of the Battleship burning through the dawn.

For 17th Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Squadron Leader David, today was just another in a long line of days to remember. looked on as his squadrons new fighter bombers started to arrive.

I am grateful for the packages that you sent back with my Air Force Liaison Officers. They filled the office with some wonderous tales of a party in Sacremento. As they say, “Them Yanks Sure Know How to Party.”

Agent Murphy has again presented me with more information regarding the matter in question. The Imperial Air Command have named their despicable new tactic ‘Divine Wind’. Have any of your team heard of this expression?

My boffins are quite happy with this new air engine technology.

Douglas, and his B17 the ‘Bataan’. I have noticed that he is a man with a long memory, and does not mind having reminders around himself. Do you know why his B17 is called the ‘Bataan’? This plane is dedicated to the brave warriors who served in the battle fields of Bataan, Philippines, that fell to Jap April 9, 1942.

I had a week of Douglas in and out of my office. I find it interesting that he did not mention his transporter for six days. So neither did I, much to the annoyance of some of my more senior staff, who did not mind mentioning this fact to me several times. Yet, who am I to complain about a man who not only gets a Prince to buy him some troops, who flies across the planet to spend a Ceremonial Occasion with a battle hardened Squadron of Australian Bomber Crews. Then delivers to our Parliament your latest Loans. That happen to arrive within the week. If he does not want to talk of that transporter, then neither do I.

So the morning came for Douglas to depart. Sitting in my office over looking the road to the snow, watching the cars heading south for a weekend of skiing. He reached into his briefcase and hand me a radio slip that simply said “Kosciuszko”.

He then handed me a map of Tenate Island, and the surrounding regions. Across the top right hand corner, in his clear copper point hand writing was a list of the units on the transporter, which I had discovered is called “Ruby Jane”. Along the bottom right hand side was a list of Japanese military units.

The second radio slip stated ‘request garrison troops for Tenate, we are ready to disembark’.

Looking at the two messages, I saw that they were both dated only this very morning, and the second was time stamped only 10 to 15 minutes before he had entered my office for this appointment.

I looked at it all again, then stood, walked over and shook his hand, offering him my congratulations. Picking up the first slip again, I looked at the word, “So why did you choose the name of one of our parks?”

Learning back against the wall, and smiling as ne sipped his drink, Douglas turned from General to Statesman before my eyes yet again, “Well Thaddeus Kosciuszko, a Polish artillery officer, provided vital assistance for the American victory at the Battle of Saratoga -- the turning point in the American Revolution. In 1778, he came to West Point and spent two years designing and overseeing the construction of the elaborate fortifications there.”

Enough said…