It was not until 2100 hours that patrolling interceptors ascertained which enemy fleet was protecting the Transports. Reeves had escorted the invasion with the USS Texas his only remaining Battleship.
British Strategic bombers had begun to try and re-assert themselves upon the islands of the Marianas and were sent on their way minus a large number of aircraft. There were enough Japanese interceptors in this area now to halt most bombing attacks with little trouble.
The next message Yamamoto read had the red stamp of Urgent across it. The origin of the message was from somewhere unusual and could signal a change in Allied tactics.
The next message Yamamoto read had the red stamp of Urgent across it. The origin of the message was from somewhere unusual and could signal a change in Allied tactics.
The failure on Guam had prompted another invasion. The report came from Mj. General Gatot Mangkoepradja who was providing beach defence in the province of Malang in East Java.
The Americans had planned two invasions in two different areas. Java was not as well protected as the Marianas and they would force the defending division to retreat. Yamamoto had no fleets close enough to help and gave orders to Japanese bombers to find and sink the Transport fleet.
The Americans had planned two invasions in two different areas. Java was not as well protected as the Marianas and they would force the defending division to retreat. Yamamoto had no fleets close enough to help and gave orders to Japanese bombers to find and sink the Transport fleet.
Air General Kondo was first to arrive, at 0300 hours on August 18th, with his Tactical bomber wing and he set about trying to halt the invasion. Ozawa and Genda joined him soon afterwards.
All three American Transport Divisions were sunk along with their embarked troops. Removing the beach defenders was one thing, actually landing was something else entirely.
All three American Transport Divisions were sunk along with their embarked troops. Removing the beach defenders was one thing, actually landing was something else entirely.
Yamamoto was becoming impatient as BB Division 1 finally reached the Babuyan Channel. He should have already arrived in Osaka but was at least a week behind schedule because of a lack of oil for his fleet. BB Division 2 was already in Osaka as he should have been.
Having cleared the area around Java Ozawa had moved back to the Marianas where he found Reeves still off the coast of Guam. Some additional damage to the USS Texas would force him to leave.
No further enemy naval activity had been detected in the Marianas but a naval patrol had noticed a Transport fleet entering the port of Sorong. Ozawa and Genda flew several missions against the port and sank all four of the enemy Divisions.
Air patrols north of Taiwan had picked up enemy naval activity. Carrier Group C was sent to investigate and arrived in North Ryukyu on August 25th.
Air patrols north of Taiwan had picked up enemy naval activity. Carrier Group C was sent to investigate and arrived in North Ryukyu on August 25th.
The initial contact would result in the sinking of the 21st Destroyer Division by aircraft from IJN Hiyo. Subsequent contacts to the south east in the Ryukyu Trench would see two more enemy vessels sunk. Aircraft from IJN Katsuragi and IJN Ryuho would sink the Light Cruiser USS Richmond and the 19th Submarine Division.
August had been fairly quiet in the Pacific. The two attempted invasions by the United States Navy demonstrated that the enemy still had more than enough capability to take the battle to the Imperial Japanese Navy. Plans for September would test both fleets.
August had been fairly quiet in the Pacific. The two attempted invasions by the United States Navy demonstrated that the enemy still had more than enough capability to take the battle to the Imperial Japanese Navy. Plans for September would test both fleets.
0000 August 30th 1945.
Intelligence Offices. Tokyo, Japan.
The second research project did complete on the last day of August. Mitsui finished their project to improve Japanese Agriculture, which would provide a slight increase to manpower available in the future.
Teiji Takagi was given the task of enhancing Japanese cipher abilites which were far behind that of the Allies. Reducing this gap would help all of Japan's Armed Forces.
