The Setting Sun - Gotterdammerung, Japan 1944.

[unmerged(59906)]

A Pacific War​

9​

0000 November 14th 1945.
BB Division 1 Flagship. IJN Yamashiro, In Transit.

Yamamoto had headed towards the Marshall Islands to escort an invasion fleet and was kept fully informed of other activities in his theater of Command.​

Tactical bombers had returned to the East Carolines to try and find the USS Randolph but would have to settle for almost sinking a Transport Division instead.​

Admiral Kato had embarked both Marine divisions and headed for Yap which was closer to his next operational area.

Unfortunately for the USS Randolph it had made a very bad choice of direction. Instead of heading towards safety it ran right into BB Division 1 as it approached the Marshall Islands.​

Heavy rain gave the Carrier no chance and both it and the Transport fleet it had been found with were sunk. IJN Hyuga would account for the Transport Division while IJN Yamashiro added a Carrier to its growing tally.​

A more general report arrived that told Yamamoto that the Allies had finally got around to recapturing the former territory of Oman. Only time would tell if they would allow that Country its autonomy again.​

BB Division 1 had originally been scheduled to arrive ahead of Carrier Group C but the engagement with the USS Randolph had slowed Yamamoto's progress. Lt. General Tanaka Shinji began the invasion of Wake Island on time. The lack of offensive moves by the Imperial Japanese Navy for almost a year had made the Americans complacent and there was no defence.​

Kuribayashi reclaimed Palu on November 15th and would wait for the American marine division in Kendari to be suitably weakened before trying to capture it.​

Admiral Triye, now commanding a Transport fleet instead of Submarines, was ordered to pick up three infantry divisions from Clark Field in the Philippines. These troops were considered no longer required as a defensive force and would form part of the current offensive operations.​

1500 November 15th 1945.
North China Army Headquarters. Lanzhou, China.

The Allied forces in India were being destroyed slowly and Japanese forces were advancing to reclaim what was rightfully theirs.​

Higashikuni had expected a counter attack once the troops arrived in Sukkur and he had not been disappointed. The attack was easily repulsed.​

 

[unmerged(59906)]

1900 November 15th 1945.
BB Division 1 Flagship. IJN Yamashiro, Central Marshalls.

Slightly behind schedule the invasion of the undefended island of Eniwetok began protected by BB Division 1, which would await the capture of the island and engage the remains of the American fleet in its port facility.​

Lt. General Ushijima Mitsuru would lead the three infantry divisions ashore where they would remain as a defensive force.​

Kuribayashi attacked the marine division in Kendari at 0300 hours on November 16th and captured it after a brief firefight. He would continue on to retake the province and secure the Celebes.​

Wake Island returned to Japanese control at midnight on November 17th. Several Submarine fleets made their way to their new base where they would provide intelligence and defence in the area. Carrier Group C and 8. Kaigun headed back to Saipan for more troops.​

Having embarked the infantry in Clark Field Admiral Triye moved towards Palau where he would conduct further operations.​

Eniwetok was captured in the early hours of November 18th by Lt. General Ushijima Mitsuru. BB Division 1 and 6. Kaigun would also head back towards the Marianas after engaging Spruance who had been forced to leave Eniwetok with his battered fleet.​

0000 November 18th 1945.
North China Army Headquarters. Lanzhou, China.

A second attack had been ordered against Japanese forces occupying Sukkur.​

The initial odds were fairly even and Higashikuni's troops had air support, something the Allies would not have the luxury of using.​

By 1300 hours an American marine division had captured Multan north of Sukkur and it added its weight to the attack. Lt. General Nishihara had no choice but to order his troops to withdraw back to Hyderabad. Higashikuni was in no particular hurry to retake this region as there were insufficient enemy troops to cause anything more than token problems. Air support would make their position hopeless soon enough.​

1400 November 18th 1945.
BB Division 1 Flagship. IJN Yamashiro, Central Marshalls.

The first Submarine fleet to arrive in Wake Island was commanded by Admiral Nagumo.​

He was ordered north to ascertain the defenses of Attu Island in the extreme north of the Pacific. Should he find the island badly defended an invasion would be likely.

Spruance had left Eniwetok and was engaged by BB Division 1 at the earliest opportunity. They had to pick up more troops before the United States Pacific fleet could react to the latest invasions which had clearly caught them by surprise.​

The battle was a lot more indecisive than had been hoped with only the 14th Destroyer Division being sunk by IJN Yamashiro. She had in turn received substantial damage from the only American ship capable of engaging the longer ranged Japanese fleet. Spruance would escape to the east while the Japanese fleets continued their course towards the Marianas.

The short engagement had been a minor victory for Spruance having only lost one vessel to the much more powerful BB Division 1. Whilst the Imperial Japanese Navy had lost no ships during this small encounter, over an inconsequential island in the middle of nowhere, they did suffer a far more devastating and far reaching blow.​

 

[robou]

Nice progress with those Islands, im sure you will get Spurance soon enough.

 

[unmerged(89090)]

did you get ambushed at attu or wake? It sounds to me from your last paragraph that carrier group C is gonna be washing up on midway island in tiny pieces around 60 years down the track (anyone guess what I'm referring to there?).

 

[stnylan]

The last line is somewhat ominous.

 

[unmerged(58104)]

Or perhaps something else unexpectedly has happened?

Maybe a partisan uprising in a province with no ground troops but with a large part of your airforce?

I hope not so.

 

[trekaddict]

did you get ambushed at attu or wake? It sounds to me from your last paragraph that carrier group C is gonna be washing up on midway island in tiny pieces around 60 years down the track (anyone guess what I'm referring to there?).

Second Battle of Midway with Yamamoto killed for good?

 

[unmerged(47302)]

I bet for SOV dow.

 

[unmerged(89729)]

Thanks for welcoming to the board! Well thats true that it may be quite hard to defend this are because of the range. But currently can't remember how many provinces they do have connected to the mainland. But if I remember correctly then Portugal is surrounding SA on both sides and there is only couple of provinces which need protection. By myself I would say do quick invasion take VP provinces annex it knock out another allie out of the game. If there is too much trouble pack your bags and go back to your mainland. If I remember correctly then allies can't re-create SA or any of your previously annexed countries without annexing you completely. But yeah I really liked your previous AAR and sticking with this one as well. Hopefully you have any good updates soon

 

[unmerged(87183)]

Remble hasn't enough troops and resources to spare for an invasion of S. Africa.

It'd be much better if he put his effort against the Americans, like he is now.

 

[Sokraates]

Did the allies change their transport-escorts tactics and instead used them to conduct a successful invvasion where it hurts you? Smart AI? Yes, I know it's a contradiction in terms.

 

[Pwn*Star]

I think it must be the Imperial Navy who gets hit, because the last line makes it sound like "They" were dealt a far more devastating defeat.I bet one of his fleet gets jumped by an American fleet which the subs and interceptors have somehow failed to spot, and manages to sink atleast 1 or 2 of his capital ships.

 

[unmerged(89729)]

Naah I am not requesting or demanding anything merely suggesting for further expansion. It would be possible to make one spy trip to check how it has been garrisoned. If it is well garrisoned then of course no point. If it isn't then would be just a little trip to annex it. Anyways currently Remble is running race against time he needs resources and this would be one of the best option to receive them without loosing a lot of TC. Of course if SOV attacks then he may have a lot of other plans, but anyways hoping for another update soon. And hopefully US gets kicked out from the pacific islands soon.

 

[HannibalBarca]

Just read it all. Excellent work.

 

[unmerged(89090)]

Second Battle of Midway with Yamamoto killed for good?

Nah it's actually something happening now on midway.

 

[unmerged(59906)]

robou - Thank you. The defended islands will be a bit more of a challenge.

thatguy, stnylan, GoforitPanzer, trekaddict, alan_le_cowboy, Sokraates, Pwn*Star - The next update shall reveal all.

Maj. von Mauser - The Americans are the priority target for the time being.

Grapp - Your welcome One war at a time is the best way to do things but South Africa is good target next if the Soviets stay out of it. I might invite them to join in the fun and games though.

HannibalBarca - Thank you

A short but unhappy update to follow ...

 

[unmerged(59906)]

Unwelcome News​

2000 November 18th 1945.
Radio Room, IJN Yamashiro, Central Marshalls.

Rear Admiral Katsukiyo Shinoda, Captain of the Battleship IJN Yamashiro, stood over his radio operator as he handed him the report on the battle for the Central Marshalls. He had checked the message several times and it finally said what it had to say. He gave orders for it to be sent immediately.

His duty done he handed control of IJN Yamashiro to his Executive Officer and retired to his cabin. It had been a long day and he knew he would not sleep.​

2100 November 18th 1945.
Naval Offices. Tokyo, Japan.

Naval Chief of Staff Nagano Osami was working late when his deputy knocked and entered. "Yes what is it Shimada?" Osami asked his second in command.

"This message just arrived Admiral." Shimada replied as he handed it to Osami with as neutral a face as he could muster.

The message was short and precise as was usual with all Naval operational reports. Osami read the last line for a second time before he stood and walked past his assistant with a purposeful stride.

Osami was not the only late worker in the Military Offices of Japan and he found Japan's Chief of Staff Kazuo Tanigawa at his desk, although he had already sent his staff home. Tanigawa looked up as he heard the knock on his open door and was about to welcome Osami with a smile when he stopped himself short.

Osami was one of the most confident and robust men he knew and he could not remember the last time he had seen him shaken in any way. "Something is wrong Nagano?" he asked in as friendly a tone as he could. Osami merely handed him the message he had been holding.

Tanigawa was greatful that he had been seated and almost on instinct his left hand reached out and picked up the phone on his desk. "Prime Minister I need an emergency Cabinet meeting at the Imperial Palace." he found himself saying. Surprisingly Hideki did not even ask what it was for. Career Politicians did not need to see a mans face to know when a request was urgent, the tone of a mans voice was more than enough for such men to read.

"Come my friend." Tanigawa said to Osami as he stood and began the short journey to the palace of the Emperor of Japan. "We will take the longer path to allow the rest of the Cabinet to arrive. We have much to discuss during the walk."

All but one of the men seated around the table stood as they entered. The Emperor stood for no man. All eyes turned to Tanigawa and Osami and even the normally talkative Prime Minister was taken aback by their looks. The rebuke he had intended to give the two Minsters for keeping the Emperor of Japan waiting went unsaid as he remained silent.

The quiet was broken after what seemed an eternity by one whispered voice. "Tell me." was all it asked. The Emperor of Japan already knew that the news was going to be extremely bad.

"I have no words of my own so I will just read the message." Tanigawa replied.

To: Naval Headquarters. Attention Naval Chief of Staff.
From: Pacific Fleet Headquarters, IJN Yamashiro.

At 2000 hours November 18th 1945 vessels of the Imperial Japanese Navy, namely BB Division 1 led by the Battleship IJN Yamashiro, encountered a hostile fleet in the Central Marshalls. The engagement was a victory resulting in the loss of one American Destroyer Division with some damage sustained by BB Division 1.

During the battle IJN Yamashiro sustained several direct hits from enemy shells, one of which struck amidships and below the Bridge. It is with the utmost regret that I must inform you that the Commander of Japan's Pacific Forces, Grand Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, was on the bridge observing the battle and lost his life in the blast along with several of the crew.

Kutsakiyo Shinoda, Rear Admiral.
Commander IJN Yamashiro.​

No one spoke and it was clear that none of them had expected this news or anything close to it. They were stunned. The seemingly indestructable leader of Japan's Pacific reversal of fortunes, who had survived an assassination attempt by the Americans, had been killed during a minor skirmish over a tiny island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

Hirohito would again be the only person to respond. "His loss will be sorely felt for he was a great man and his wisdom has guided us back from the brink of collapse in the Pacific. He is also but one man and Japan has many other sons to take his place. Gentlemen we are still at War and I wish to know who is to fill Yamamoto's shoes?"

Tanigawa and Osami had talked about this during their walk as they knew it would be asked. The logical successor would be Osami himself, as he was the only other Grand Admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy, but he could not accept the post as he was Chief of Staff and already nominally in control of Carrier Group C. They briefly conferred with the Chief of Staff for the Air Force Ushiroku Jun, who not only agreed with their choice but was also prepared to allow it. Some old barriers still stood amongst the branches of Japan's Armed Forces and the Pacific was a Naval sphere so Satoru was not party to the decision.​

"Your Majesty our choice is currently commanding a bomber squadron but is also an established fleet commander who has served in both capacities for some time. We would give the task to Admiral Ozawa who will take command of BB Division 1 on its arrival back in Saipan. His current command will be given to Air General Ichimaru who is well aquainted with Naval bombers." Tanigawa replied.

"Very well Gentlemen. The State funeral for Grand Admiral Yamamoto will be held on December 1st and that day will henceforth be a day of National mourning. We have already lost him once and I trust our fortunes will not reverse once more now that we have lost him again." Hirohito stated as he stood and left.​

 

[al_faris]

yay update let the masses rejoice! and what a shame about yamamoto

 

[unmerged(89090)]

NOOOOOOOO!!!! . WHY GOD WHY!!!!!!

well you're screwed now, have fun .

btw I was referring to the massive garbage pile up on midway island in my last post. Something to do with ocean currents sending almost all the garbage in the pacific to that one Island.

 

[ColossusCrusher]

What about the techteam?
Will you pass it off as his staff?