The Bear
7
1300 June 8th 1946.
North China Army Headquarters. Lanzhou, China.
The bombing of the enemy forces in Aksu would be delayed for a short time as a better target of opportunity arrived for the Dive bombers to pursue.
A Headquarters division had advanced into Gulja where it would be destroyed over the next couple of days. The current enemy forces on Chinese soil were minor but this was but a short respite before larger forces would arrive.
In the early hours of June 9th two armoured divisions that had entered Khobdo were forced to retreat by a combined attack from Urumqi and Yusun Bulag. No pursuit would be ordered.
0100 June 9th 1946.
Kwantung Army Headquarters. Harbin, Manchukuo.
Japanese Tactical bombers had been given a few days to weaken the enemy army in Jilin and two of the seven divisions had been destroyed. Terauchi gave the orders for an assault to remove the remaining troops before they could reach Xinjing province.
General Kawabe would lead the attack from Liaoyuan with small flanking attacks supporting his advance. One division from Harbin and one from Chongyin were used to envelope the enemy force and not substantially weaken either provinces defense. The battle would not be over quickly despite the air support and Kawabe's force would not be in good enough condition to advance into Jilin. The Soviet army would lose another fight and more troops would be retreating as a result.
Two new Manchurian divisions were unfortunate enough to time their arrival badly and instantlly retreated from Xinjing.
1500 June 9th 1946.
BB Division 1 Flagship. IJN Yamashiro, In Transit.
The escorted American Transport fleet had returned to the Central Marshalls where CA Division 1 engaged it once more.
Both fleets were taking damage and nothing would be sunk. Both Japanese Destroyer Flotillas headed for Kwajalein to undergo repairs while the remainder of the fleet waited for the Americans to return.
0500 June 10th 1946.
North China Army Headquarters. Lanzhou, China.
Higashikuni had ordered a large part of his forces in Mongolia to advance back into Ulan Bator to try and secure the province. Soviet forces were also making for the former capital of Mongolia.
The Soviet defenders were operating in a province which had changed hands several times and had very bad infrastructure as a result. The fact that were also outnumbered four to one played a big part in their defeat.
An air battle occured over Jilin at 0300 hours on June 11th. A Polish Interceptor wing caught the massed ranks of the Japanese Tactical bomber force as they continued to bomb the retreating soviet forces in the province. The damage to the bombers could have been severe if it wasn't for the presence of Tanaka and his Interceptor wing accompanying the bombers. Both sides would take damage but nothing major for the Japanese bombers.
0000 June 12th 1946.
BB Division 1 Flagship. IJN Yamashiro, In Transit.
After what had seemed almost an eternity some upgrades were finally completed to the Imperial Japanese Navy.
All eight Japanese Carriers were now armed with more modern air wings which would increase their potency should they encounter enemy forces.
The American Transport fleet with its Light Cruiser escort returned to the Central Marshalls again at 0300 hours on June 12th. This time only four Japanese ships would be waiting but they managed to sink the by now badly damaged enemy fleet. Only the Transport fleet could be claimed by a Japanese vessel and the Heavy Cruiser IJN Suzuya would fire the fatal shot.
1600 June 13th 1946.
Kwantung Army Headquarters. Harbin, Manchukuo.
Terauchi had been catching up on some sleep during the night when he was awoken by the sound of heavy shells exploding throughout the region. He knew by the sound that they were Soviet shells and was already fully awake and heading for his command post when his adjutant came to wake him.
Field Marshall Meretskov had brought more troops with him this time. Attacking at night with heavy rain falling was not a particularly bright move on the Soviet commanders part. The attack faltered and died shortly after dawn as Soviet casualties mounted. Teruachi's troops suffered some casualties as well but nowhere near as many as the attacking force.