The Bear
3
0500 May 1st 1946.
North China Army Headquarters. Lanzhou, China.
Higashikuni would continue to repulse as many Soviet advances as he could until such time as they became too numerous for this tactic to work. He knew that once they had built up enough forces to attack in large numbers that his own troops would withdraw, only to repeat the process again and again. There would be another constant during this entire time.
Red Army troops that had advanced in too small a number would be savaged by Japanese bombers as they were forced backwards. There had been seven divisions in Altay when they had arrived, only five remained and they were all showing signs of heavy losses.
0000 May 2nd 1946.
Diplomatic Offices. Tokyo, Japan.
Mamoru was monitoring possible trades when a note appeared on his table that his assistant thought he might like to see.
The Soviets had a new Head of State. Nikolay Shvernik had replaced Mikhail Kalininin. Nothing had really changed, Stalin still controlled the Soviet Union and its massive armed forces.
0000 May 2nd 1946.
Kwantung Army Headquarters. Harbin, Manchukuo.
The response to Japanese bombing had been to increase the number of Soviet bombers attacking Japanese ground troops. Red Army soldiers were invariably caught moving and were a lot more vunerable as a result.
The Soviet bombers were targetting troops heavily dug in on mountains. No damage would result from these or further attacks in the area. Terauchi wasn't about to just let these Dive bombers do whatever they liked of course as he had Interceptors at his disposal.
Mj. General Saboru, a highly skilled commander after much practice in the Pacific, caught three of the unescorted bomber squadrons over Liaoyuan. Only two would return to base and they would be out of action for some time to undergo repairs.
0300 May 3rd 1946.
BB Division 1 Flagship. IJN Yamashiro, Central Marshalls.
Japanese marines had landed on Bikini Island in the Marshalls at 0300 hours on May 3rd.
Ozawa could begin another operation in earnest now that this island chain was secure. Forces would be required to remain to defend the furthermost Japanese territory in the Pacific and they would need to be substantial for the time being.
1000 May 4th 1946.
The Skies Above Liaoyuan.
The Soviet airforce had a large amount of Dive bombers at its disposal and they were increasing in numbers over Manchuria.
The latest four squadrons to bomb Liaoyuan and its headquarters division were intercepted by both Japanese Interceptor wings as well as the Tactical bombers on their way north. The results would be very one sided although no enemy squadron would be totally destroyed.
0000 May 5th 1946.
The Skies Above Sinkiang.
The fairly large infantry formation that had entered Altay had suffered for its advance as it was pummeled by Dive bombers.
None of the Red Army divisions would leave alive. Japanese Close Air Support aircraft would once more cross over the Soviet border to hunt further prey until such time as more enemy troops entered China.
0500 May 6th 1946.
BB Division 1 Flagship. IJN Yamashiro, Centrall Marshalls.
The British Transport fleets that had been trying to land on New Ireland had been forced away from the area and had chosen to head north east towards the safety of Hawaii.
None of them would make it as Japanese Interceptors accounted for most of the damaged vessels. One did make it as far as the South West Marshalls where CA Division 1 sank it during their transit towards Kwajalein. The Heavy Cruiser IJN Suzuya would claim what was left of the Transport fleet. CA Division 1 would take over the defence of the Central Marshalls to allow Ozawa the freedom to move BB Division 1 wherever it was needed.
The removal of the patrolling aircraft from the Indian Ocean and Indonesia had left a large area where nothing was watching for incoming enemy shipping. Ozawa had chosen to use Japanese Submarines to plug the gap. They had now arrived on station and formed a line from India in the north to Australia in the south. Three damaged Submarine Flotillas were heading towards Perth where they would complete the defensive line once repaired.
CA Division 2 was also on station in the Central Gilberts. The Heavy Cruiser IJN Ashigara blew the 41st Destroyer Division out of the water shortly afterwards. The Gilbert Islands were very lightly defended but no plans were being made to occupy them for the moment.
