Eclipse of the Rising Sun,a 1944 Japan AAR
Episode 5
''The only thing not to do, is to do nothing. '' - L.Ron Hubbard
7th November 1944
Staring at the sea that had taken so many, Yamamoto(chief of Carrier Fleet) and Shima(chief of Staff) slowly drinked their tea, in pure silence. Both of them didn't say a word, but they both had the same thing in mind. What the hell was going to happen now...
The IJN Fall - September/October 1944
By the beginning of September, after much discussion by the high command, orders were given to take the Micronesian islands back, wich were under American control. The tactic would consist of island hopping, due to the proximity of all the islands in Micronesia. Japanese marines were deployed on an island south of Kwalajein and slowly but surely started capturing every islands.
By mid September, a total reversal of situation happened in burma. The british forces had encircled over 10 divisions. A strong drive towards Rangoon, the capital of the Burma regions, had been succesful in cutting over 10 divisions east of Rangoon.
In an attempt to save the divisions, Chief of Staff Akiro Shima ordered the entire Carrier fleet in Micronesia to be sent in the Indian sea to cover the arrival of transport ships who would reinforce the trapped divisions and help to achieve the re-capture of Rangoon. The entire Carrier Fleet rebased in Singapore, then got moving in the Indian sea where it would cover the transport ships and give heavy shore bombardements and air dominance to capture back Rangoon.
The IJN fleet had saved from doom a lot of soldiers, and also had gotten themself a great opportunity to eliminate an heavy part of the South East british navy, who had stationned in Rangoon when it was under british control. The English South East Navy, stuck between the IJN patrolling the Bay of Bangal and the Japanese soldiers moving towards their sea ports, quickly gave an alarm call to the entire U.S Navy and Royal Navy. It was declared that its entire fleet could be wiped off and they needed heavy reinforcement to be saved. Responding to this, the American navy and the English Navy, already preparing for a massive counter attack with almost their entire carrier fleet, saw the opportunity to trap the IJN navy in the Indian Sea. They quickly got on the move and prepared for what would be the biggest Naval battle of all time.
The plan proposed and executed by the Allies to finish off the Carrier force.They sent almost everything they had for this battle.
The Indian Sea battle
Order of Battle
Carriers
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Light Cruisers
2nd Light Cruiser Fleet - Vice Admiral Mikawa, Superior Tactician
Destroyers
3rd Destroyer Fleet - Admiral Ozawa, Superior Tactician/Blockade Runner
The Battle
The Allied Pacific Navy quickled formed a ring around the Japanese ships in the Gulf of Rangoon, with the biggest mass of Carriers ever assembled since the beginning of the war. Every allied commander knew that this was their chance to almost wipe the IJN off this world, so they deployed all they had.On the 9th November, it all started.
9th - 10th October, 1944
A large amounts of US and English planes launched from their respective Carriers, hoping to pick off as many Destroyers as they could, to clear the way for the British submarines. Yamamoto skillfully saw trough this plan and his Light cruisers were quickly sent foward, while he pulled back is destroyers back to the coast. 3 Light cruisers are sunked and many are lightly damaged. However the British commanders tought many had been very damaged, so the British submarines were sent. The 3rd Destroyer Fleet commander, Admiral Ozawa, did a marvelous job with his destroyers while the English submarines were totally surprised by the strong destroyer presence. The Royal Navy submarines tried to fall back but they were enable to do so. This would prove to be England's biggest submarine disaster since the beginning of the war.This would be the last action of submarines seen in the Indian sea for the entire battle.
Japan Lost - Light Cruisers: IJN Nagara,IJN Kashima ,IJN Noru(all part of the 2nd light cruiser fleet)
Allies Lost - Submarines: 4th,6th,7th,8th and 9th Royal Navy Submarines Flottilas
11th-13th October, 1944
The Allied commanders were in total confusion following this terrible action. The Royal Navy blamed the American for giving them false reports, while the U.S navy said the British had just mis-understood their reports and that their submarine use was just bad. Whoever's fault it was, it barely mattered. On the 11th, following the submarine disaster, Grand Admiral Yamamoto , counter attacked the US Carriers, stationned South. The American commanders requested help from the Royal Navy, but due to the tense climate that had established in the past week, help came much less faster then it should have came, and the U.S Navy received the heaviest blow since the start of this war.
Japan lost - Carriers: IJN Junyo
Allies lost - Carriers: USS Bennington, USS Intrepid,USS Hornet,USS Shangri La / Battleships: USS Massachusetts / Light Cruisers:USS Nashville
15th-17th October, 1944
The U.S navy was in shock. They were in total confusion after what had just happened. The battle of midway had just happened to them. 4 Carriers had been sunk, while Japan had only lost one. Commanders were not even frustrated or angry, they were just in shock and confusion. How can such a thing happen? The Royal navy on their side, was fueled by the need of revenge for their lost friends. US and British had forgived themself for the submarine disaster. It was time for them to both combine and give a powerful blow to the IJN. After all, they had them encircled. The British Navy counter attacked with what was remaining of the US carrier fleet, and a small revenge was taken for the events that had happen 2 days ago. Sacrificing themself to save the carriers, many Japanese destroyers payed an heavy price to protect the Capital ships.This would be the Allies's first victory.
Japan lost - Carriers: IJN Hiyo / Destroyers: Entire 3rd Destroyer Fleet
Allies lost - Battleships: HMS Queen Elizabeth / Battlecruisers: HMS Renown
20th November, 1944; the Escape manovers
The situation was critical for the IJN at this point. With 2 carriers lost and the others damaged, Yamamoto knew that he needed to get out of there. He quickly ordered an attack on British ships, then he would drive his ships South, where the Americans were stationned. The reason was simple; the U.S navy would run off to help their English fellows, and it would weaken their southern line. This would allow an escape towards Singapore. At the rise of the sun, the first part of the plan started and worked marvelously; the british suffered a very heavy blow.
Japan lost - Nothing
Allies lost - Carriers: HMS Indomitable,HMS Victorious,HMS Unicorn / Battleships:HMS Anson,HMS King George V / Heavy cruisers:HMS Effingham
22th-28th October, 1944; The final stage
Yamamoto, seeing that it was time to head back home for some repairs, did the second phase of his escape plan. He headed south towards Singapore, hoping that some US ships had shifted east to help the Royal Navy who had suffered heavy blows 3 days ago. However, they did not. They had cracked, once again, the Japanese codes and they knew the entire Carrier fleet would be heading south to go in Singapore. Yamamoto, took by full surprise when he saw that the entire fleet was still there, was never able to recover from his mistake. This would be the fall of the IJN.
Japan Lost - Carriers: IJN Unryu,IJN Koku Sentai, IJN Amagi / Light Cruisers:2nd Light Cruiser fleet
Allies - Carriers: USS Lexington, USS Enterprise
Final Results of the Indian Sea Battle
Japan Lost - Carriers: IJN Unryu, IJN Koku Sentain, IJN Amagi, IJN Hiyo, IJN Junyo / Light Cruisers:2nd Light Cruiser fleet(8 Light Cruisers) / Destroyers:3rd Destroyer Fleet(8 Destroyers flottila)
Allies Lost - Carriers: USS Bennington, USS Intrepid,USS Hornet,USS Shangri La, HMS Indomitable, HMS Victorious, HMS Unicorn, USS Lexington, USS Enterprise / Battleships: USS Massachusetts, HMS Queen Elizabeth, HMS Anson,HMS King George V / Battlecruisers: HMS Renown / Heavy cruisers:HMS Effingham / Light cruisers: USS Nashville / Submarines: 4th,6th,7th,8th and 9th Royal Navy Submarines Flottilas
From the Allies point of view, this wasen't even declared as a victory. It was a tragic lost that could have been dodged. However, it was absolutly nothing compared to the Japanese point of view. This almost meant the end of the war. With the brand new Shinano carrier launched(lvl VI), the Nihon Kaigun(IJN) only had 3 Carriers left, and to make it even worst, there was now a major lack of screening ships. Of course, Burma had been saved and Rangoon had been recaptured, but at an unforgettable price. This would be known as the second IJN fall.(midway being first)
7th November 1944
Shima decided to break the silence by going directly to the point.
Shima(Chief of Staff) -
So, what next for us?
Yamamoto -
I think you have to much attention on your loses. You should keep looking at what you have, instead of focusing on your loses. That how i was able to stay focused after the midway disaster.
Shima -
Easier said then done...
Yamamoto -
Yes but much its much easier to look at what you have then trying to bring back carriers from the bottom of a sea.
Shima -
Meh, i guess your right... but answer my question; whats next for us?
Yamamoto -
Well....its basicly a waiting game for us. We just have to wait and see what the Allies do and we will just do the adaptation...
Sorry there is no choice for the readers this week, but there was nothing to make a choice of, so this week is read only!
How does our writer intend to offset the huge shift in VP's when europe falls? nevermind the sudden shift of allied focus..
