Operation Blossom
3
0300 July 14th 1949.
BB Division 1 Flagship. IJN Fuso, In Transit.
Ozawa had ordered his fleet back around South Africa now that it was clear that Calhoun was heading towards the Arabian Sea. He still had no intention of seeking an engagement with the enemy Carrier Task Force but he needed his ships elsewhere for upcoming operations.
Calhoun was picked up in the East Coast of Somalia by one of the patrolling Tactical bomber wings which began to attack his remaining Carriers immediately. Slightly more damage would be inflicted but no ships would be sunk as the American Admiral continued north. Contact would be lost shortly afterwards as the fast moving fleet changed sea zones.
Sakai found Calhoun again on the 15th at 0500 hours and he managed to sink the USS Lexington inside an hour. USS Essex became Calhoun's latest flagship as he steamed south at full speed to try and avoid further losses. Twenty four bomber squadrons continued the hunt but would not make any further contact on July 15th.
1100 July 15th 1949.
Central Asia Army Headquarters. Sevastopol, Soviet Union.
The progress on Hata's Army continued to be fairly rapid as enemy opposition remained light for the most part. The Dive bombers were managing to control large areas of land through which Japanese forces were scheduled to travel making advances considerably easier.
General Nishio arrived in Poznan to reclaim the province after Japanese tanks had failed to hold. Nishio would not be attacked and he began the process of digging in as the north was to be a holding position for the time being.
The Americans decided to land more troops in Mazirbe in the evening of July 15th which resulted in re-tasking of Hata's Dive bomber groups to deal with this new threat. Mj. General Yano altered his line of march towards the invasion to make mopping up an easier task.
By 0100 hours on July 16th several Japanese corps had made significant advances and received new orders that had them marching into undefended enemy territory. Five divisions headed for Cracow to try and capture retreating enemy divisions from the north as two more advances began in the south towards Kosice and Presov. The latter two advances would place two enemy Countries capitals within easy marching distance if no enemy forces appeared to halt the moves. The central attack plan was gaining momentum as forces began to arrive in greater numbers to force the breech in the enemies line.
Shimoyama's damaged bombers arrived over Mazirbe where a second American division had joined the first on the exposed beaches. Whether the two divisions knew that their mission was suicidal was open to debate but there was no chance of them surviving for long behind Japanese lines.
0600 July 16th 1949.
BB Division 1 Flagship. IJN Fuso, In Transit.
Ozawa was beginning to think that Calhoun had managed to speed away and escape the massed ranks of bombers pursuing his damaged fleet, but Air General Itabana reported new contact with the withdrawing American Carrier Task Force at 0600 hours on July 16th. Ozawa had been unable to concentrate his bombers against Calhoun for many months but today would be different.
Itabana was leading twenty of the twenty four bomber squadrons searching for Calhoun and this time the American Admiral would suffer a high price. By 0800 hours the USS Essex had been sunk as the bombers made repeated attacks in Cape Vilanandro which narrowed towards it's southern end between Africa and Madagascar. An hour later the USS Antietam followed the USS Essex to the bottom leaving Calhoun with only one Fleet Carrier. The speed of his ships would allow him to escape again as he managed to avoid further damage by exiting the narrower waters.
Despite his efforts Calhoun was found again on July 17th as Itabana led twelve bomber squadrons over the West Natal Basin. This time it would cost him the USS Lake Champlain, his last remaining Carrier. The scourge of the northern Pacific had finally been tamed by Ozawa's bombers after leading them a long and time consuming dance. Ozawa called off the bombers as BB Division 1 was close by and could intercept the fleeing remains of the large Carrier Task Force.
2200 July 16th 1949.
Central Asia Army Headquarters. Sevastopol, Soviet Union.
Advances continued for Hata and his men which in turn led to more forward moves as the Japanese Field Marshall pushed his advantage before the Allies could regroup.
Hoshinato had moved his Armour back into Poznan and received new orders to head south towards Oppeln which was on the Allies main resupply route for new troops heading to the front lines.
Nakajima was tasked with removing the threat of further invasions along the Baltic coast and his Dive bomber group, supported by upgraded Interceptors, wasted little time in destroying the three remaining American Transport Flotillas in the port of Stettin.
Three German Infantry divisions arrived in Cracow ahead of the advancing Japanese forces but they would be overwhelmed by the thirteen Japanese divisions moving towards the province.
At 0000 hours on July 18th the Allies launched a counter attack in the north towards General Yamashita who was defending Bydgoszcz. The odds looked favourable for Yamashita but additional Allied troops joined the battle an hour later forcing him to withdraw back towards Lodz.
The fighting in the north was drawing valuable Allied troops into combat which resulted in very little enemy opposition in the center. Nine Japanese divisions had captured Presov which allowed for a three pronged advance from the province. Troops headed into Hungary, Romania and Czechoslovakia as the Allied line faced total collapse.
0800 July 18th 1949.
Africa Army Headquarters. Adadan, Persia.
The return of the two Tactical bomber groups to Africa following the chase of Calhoun allowed Higashikuni to begin to force the Allies to withdraw again in the south.
Itabana assisted a ground assault on Albertville where a newly French division was forced to retreat. Itabana ensured that the retreat was never completed.
1200 July 18th 1949.
Central Asia Army Headquarters. Sevastopol, Soviet Union.
The weakening of the Japanese defensive line along the Romanian border had given the French commanders a chance to attack, or so they thought. The fact that the Allied forces had also reduced made the new attack pointless and costly for the Allies.
General Itagaki could probably have held Stryj against the three attacking enemy divisions but Hata decided to make sure of victory and also force the enemy out of Beltsy at the same time. There was almost no anti-aircraft cover this far south which would allow Shimoyama to attack the now weak south and recover some strength to his damaged squadrons at the same time.
Just before General Kioso was given orders to advance towards the Czech capital of Banska Bystrica two Czech Infantry divisions were hastily deployed to the province. Hata waited for Nakajima and his bombers to arrive before ordering the assault which would soon see Japanese troops marching towards an enemy capital to try and sieze that Countries stockpile of resources.
0700 July 19th 1949.
BB Division 1 Flagship. IJN Fuso, Algoa Bay.
BB Division 1 had just entered Algoa Bay when lookouts reported enemy ships ahead. Ozawa thought it would be Calhoun's remaining escort ships but he would be wrong.
The British 23rd Destroyer Flotilla did not last long after the guns of IJN Fuso finished off what remained of it. Calhoun would manage to somehow avoid contact with BB Division 1 and escape with his escort ships to fight another day.
0000 July 20th 1949.
Intelligence Offices. Tokyo, Japan.
Tomoyoki Yamashita had been keeping himself busy during the quieter times along the Western Front by leading his research team towards a new goal.
He informed Kuniaki of his success as his team completed Assault Concentration Doctrine. This new doctrine would enhance Headquarter capabilites and greatly improve artillery performance. It was a shame that all of Japan's artillery brigades had been sacrificed for their manpower many months ago. Mitsubishi Hikoki received a new project, Advanced Hospital System, which would improve the survival chances of Japanese soldiers injured during combat.
And totally unexpected by the US, too.
