by Row, David
The Japanese begin a combined, concentrated attack against Australian troops at Laha Airdrome on Ambon Island using infantry, dive-bombers, fighter planes, warships and artillery; the Japanese capture the airfield by mid-morning. Later in the day the surviving Australians at Laha approached the Japanese with surrender negotiations.
Feb 3rd
Port T, a top-secret British naval base on Addu Atoll, becomes operational.
Two Japanese Zero fighters, recovered after force landings in Malaya (albeit in slightly bent condition) commence testing by the RAF and USAAF. The aircraft have been fully repaired (sufficient bits of Zeros were readily available), and the flight testing is being done with maximum priority to help design better tactics against the fighter once its true performance is known.
In the Philippine Islands, the submarine USS Trout unloads 3,500 rounds of ammunition, refuels, loads two torpedoes, and requests additional ballast. Since neither sandbags nor sacks of concrete are available, she is given 20 tons of gold bars and silver pesos to be evacuated from the Philippines before submerging shortly before daybreak to wait at the bottom in Manila Bay until the return of darkness. She gets underway that night using the gold as ballast on the return voyage to Pearl Harbor.
The Japanese begin pre-invasion air attacks on Java. Japanese Navy aircraft from Kendari on Celebes Island attack Soerabaja, Madionen, and Malang. While returning to base, the crew of a Japanese aircraft reports the presence of Allied ships off Madoera.
At Singosari Airdrome four fully loaded B-17's are destroyed, and a fifth is shot down. Three Royal Netherlands Navy Catalina flying boats are destroyed at Soerabaja and a FEAF B-18 Bolo bringing radar technicians from Australia to Java is shot down with the loss of everyone aboard the aircraft.
At the fighter base, Blimbing Airdrome, FEAF P-40s are unable to climb to altitude to intercept the bombers but they manage to shoot down two Japanese fighters and a bomber for the loss off one P-40.
The Japanese attack at Ambon is considered by Somerville's staff to be the precursor to an invasion of Timor. This would cause serious problems, as Timor is needed to stage fighter aircraft through from Australia to the DEI. As he now has another carrier, Somerville decides to move a strong task force forward south of Java, and base a light carrier with some cruisers and destroyers out of Darwin. He realises that this is not sufficient to take on the full strength of the Japanese carrier force, but only intends to contest lighter forces. Two of his T-class submarines are also ordered to patrol east of Timor. His hope is that the IJN may attempt to take Timor with inadequate escort, in which case he can attack them at favourable odds. If the IJN support is too heavy, he will attempt to trail his coat to it while concentrating his fleet carriers and submarines against it. To aid the fleet, a squadron of Sparrowhawk fighters is to move to Timor, as are additional ground troops. He also instructs that the cruiser/destroyer formations used are not to leave Allied fighter cover without good reason - he does not want to lose more ships chasing rumours. The current aim is to contain and nibble away at the IJN forces while denying them their objectives, rather than force a major concentration - Somerville is aware that the Japanese have more carriers that he has currently available, as well as land based support.
The merchant ships that made up the Pillar convoy set off for Alexandria escorted by the two fleet carriers at Singapore. The carriers will return as soon as the ships are safely clear of Sumatra, as Somerville wants to be able to concentrate his carrier force if need be. This will cause some problems in coordination; the usual RN practice is a group of two carriers, occasionally three, but five will mean operating in two groups - there has not been any time to practice the coordination of larger carrier forces. The home convoy will pick up additional troops and supplies at Alexandria.
Feb 4th
Japanese reconnaissance flying boats contact and shadow the Allied force (Rear Admiral Doorman, RNN) of four cruisers and accompanying destroyers, sighted yesterday by 1st Kokutai aircraft as they transited the Madoera Strait to attack the Japanese Borneo invasion fleet. The Allied fleet is now south of the Greater Sunda Islands, about 190 miles east of Surabaya, Java. On the strength of that intelligence, Japanese naval land attack planes of the Takao, Kanoya, and 1st Kokutais bomb Doorman's ships, damaging the heavy cruiser USS Houston and light cruiser USS Marblehead. The Dutch light cruisers HNMS De Ruyter and HNMS Tromp are slightly damaged by near misses. USS Marblehead's extensive damage (only by masterful seamanship and heroic effort does she reach Tjilatjap, Java, after the battle) results in her being sent back to the United States via Ceylon and South Africa; despite the loss of turret III (one-third of her main battery), USS Houston remains. The action is later to be criticised for entering an area under Japanese air dominance without fighter cover; Admiral Doormans actions to protect the DEI are seen as far too careless of the ships under his command.
The small Australian garrison on Ambon Island, largely the 2/21 Battalion, surrenders to the Japanese.
The US Asiatic Fleet (Admiral Hart) ceases to exist. Units of the Asiatic Fleet are organized into Naval Forces, Southwest Pacific Area under Vice Admiral Glassford. By previous arrangement, he will operate under Admiral Somerville, the Royal Navy now moving further forward into the DEI to provide the capital ships and carriers the current light forces lack. Somerville considers Malaya and Singapore safe for the time being, and also has a powerful carrier and battleship force in reserve to protect that area.
Two Dutch destroyers at Darwin take the first reinforcements to Timor. The island is currently in range of Japanese air cover, but not Allied planes, so these fast ships are considered the best way of getting the troops in. As soon as Allied air cover can be provided a more substantial effort will be made.
Feb 5th
Admiral King orders Nimitz to use the "maximum force available" of the Pacific Fleet, including battleships, to raid the western Pacific to divert Japanese strength from the Far East. It is hoped that between them the USN and RN can divide the attention of the IJN and prevent them properly supporting the invasion of the Dutch East Indies. The US code breakers are steadily getting a grip on the IJN codes, and the hope is that a breakthrough will allow a concentration against the IJN to the advantage of the Allied navies.
A brigade of the 18th British Division moves to Sumatra, to start preparing in case the Japanese advance through the DEI reaches this far. If Sumatra falls, Alexander's only option to keep Malaya supplied is to force the Japanese back past the Thai border in the west, which would at least make it possible to fight convoys through Japanese air cover. Losing Sumatra would also put Singapore far too close to Japanese air bases for cover, and would force him to commit more men to defend the area in case of a Japanese invasion. If necessary, he is prepared to give up Borneo and Java to preserve Sumatra, although he has not told the Dutch this.
General Yamashita is censured by the high command in Japan for his lack of aggression and progress in Malaya. He defends himself by pointing out that his actions are severely constrained by lack of supplies, caused by poor support from the Navy, and that the early stages (when he had full supply) were going satisfactorily. The main result is an escalating series of blame passing between the Army and the Navy, while Yamashita struggles to get his forward units properly supplied. The IJA is currently giving priority to the successful invasion of the Philippine Islands.
Feb 6th
In the I Corps area on Bataan, the Japanese receive reinforcements and attack late in the day to relieve pockets. While some elements increase pressure against the1st and 11th Divisions, Philippine Army, others drive toward Big Pocket until stopped by the 11th Division 800 yards from their objective. A small salient in the corps main line of resistance is formed and called Upper Pocket. In the Manila Bay area, Japanese artillery that is emplaced along the south shore of the Bay in the vicinity of Ternate begins a daily bombardment of the fortified islands. Forts Drum and Frank receive the main weight of shells.
A joint British/
French commando operation raids Sicily at night, spending an enjoyable few hours blowing up aircraft on one of the airfields before being recovered. The retaliation on Malta in the morning by the Italian Air Force is met with Allied fighter cover and takes heavy casualties. The raid had two purposes; to keep the Italians edgy, and to get a better idea of the state of the defences on Sicily. The British Chiefs of Staff also enquire if the US Army is in a position to supply a division to the Mediterranean for planned actions later in the year - if not, it will carry on as a joint Imperial-French operation. There are sufficient divisions now in the theatre for proposed operations - the bottleneck is amphibious shipping and landing craft - but the addition of an American division would be good politically as well as blooding the American troops.
Feb 7th
The Nazi armaments and munitions minister, Fritz Todt, returning to Berlin after talks with Hitler, is killed when his plane crashes on take-off. It is announced as an accident. Albert Speer is appointed as Minister of Munitions in his place.
Nine USAAF5th Air Force B-17's based at Singosari Airdrome on Java attempt to bomb Japanese shipping at Balikpapan but are driven off by fighters.
The RAF agrees the final details of its spring offensive with the War Cabinet. This will involve two phases of operation. First, a number of attacks, as heavy as possible, on selected cities such as Hamburg, each planned to last a number of days in order to cause the maximum damage to the city and (where applicable) U-boat production. Once this has been accomplished and the tactics validated, Bomber Command will commence a sustained attack against the Ruhr, which is expected to last some months - how long will depend on the damage done verses the losses. Bomber Command accepts that such a sustained attack will also damage their bomber force, but the reduction in German war production is expected to be worth it. These campaigns will also see the first use of the high-altitude Coventry bomber, which at least at first is expected to be immune to the German defences. In addition to new bombers and tactics, Bomber Command will also be using a new radio-navigation device, Gee, which it is hoped will reduce the missing of the marked target by less experienced crews.
In addition to the heavy raids by the heavy and high-altitude bombers, it is also expected to conduct a parallel set of attacks using the new Mosquito bomber. While this aircraft cannot carry the heavy loads of the four-engined bombers, its speed allows it to make daylight attacks without the risk of unacceptable losses. The Mosquito force is still being built up, but the current plans are to hit small but valuable targets, and to stress the German defences by attacks both day and night.
The RAF is also hoping to conduct a campaign against the U-boat pens in France, but this needs to await new bombs which will be necessary to penetrate the immensely thick roof that covers the pens. The Coventry bomber is capable of carrying the proposed bombs at the altitude required, and the heavy bombs are currently being developed; it is hoped to have them available after the Ruhr campaign is finished.
There has been considerable controversy over the deliberate delay of the campaign in order to build up the bomber force so that the new tactics and weapons will have the greatest effect. In the end, the success of the Army and Naval operations in the Mediterranean and the Far East allowed the arguments for the delay to win out - it was seen as far less politically necessary to mount a bomber offensive to boost morale.
Feb 8th
Lieutenant General Homma, Commander of the Japanese 14th Army, orders a general withdrawal northward to more favourable positions, where troops can be rested and reorganized while awaiting reinforcements for the final assault on Bataan.
Feb 9th
Japan occupies Makassar in the Celebes. About 8,000 Japanese troops land near Makassar City and south of Makassar at Jeneponto on Celebes Island. They immediately head for Makassar City, where they capture a bridge and the Dutch troops who were guarding the bridge. A company of native soldiers opens fire on the Japanese causing casualties, and in reprisal the Japanese tie the Dutch soldiers in groups of three and throw them from the bridge into the water to drown.
Four destroyers from Rabaul land troops of the Japanese 144th Infantry at Gasmata, a coastal town on southern New Britain Island
Feb 10th
USAAF 5th Air Force LB-30 Liberators bomb and damage the Japanese seaplane carrier HIJMS Chitose in Makassar Strait south of Celebes Island. Unfortunately, due to the still-poor operational communication between the USAAF and the British, by the time this is realised the seaplane carrier has escaped out of easy attack range by FAA aircraft.
A small U.S. Army defence force arrives on Christmas Island. The force consists of 2,000 troops (one each infantry, coast artillery and antiaircraft artillery battalions) plus the 7th Air Force’s 12th Pursuit Squadron with P-39's
HMAS Melbourne and her escorts arrive at Darwin to refuel. She will then cover a reinforcement convoy to Timor. In order to allow the light carrier to provide better air cover she has flown off her Cormorant dive bombers, landing on a squadron of modified Sparrowhawks. There are no Goshawks available in Darwin, but the Sparrowhawk, derived from the naval fighter, is easily modified to be carrier-capable (the Australian Sparrowhawks always retained the fixing for an arrester hook, and the radio equipment has been replaced with the naval variant from stores in Australia). This allows her to carry 28 fighters. The RAAF are already basing two squadrons of Cormorants at Darwin, and it is hoped to move one to Timor. Unless the IJN use battleships to escort their invasion fleets, it is felt the dive bombers will be more useful in anti-shipping attacks, backed up by a squadron of Beaufighters to be used as gunships against the lighter coastal craft.
While the Allies do have a need to keep intercepting the Japanese invasion forces, and if possible keep them off Timor, Somerville does have an ulterior motive; he has two fleet carriers and a light carrier ready to strike hard at any large concentration of Japanese shipping, and he hopes that if the Darwin and Timor based aircraft prove effective they can annoy the IJN into entering a trap. He is also hoping to use them as cover to allow Australian forces to counter-attack some of the smaller islands the Japanese have invaded. While the Japanese are invading a considerable number of targets, it has been noticed that the forces used are often small, leaving them vulnerable to counter-attack by modest forces. If the IJN increases the cover and amount of these attacks, this may leave them vulnerable to a counter-concentration by Somerville.
Feb 11th
The RN Anti-Submarine command insists on a meeting with Prime Minister Churchill concerning the success of Operation Drumbeat off the Eastern USA. They are accompanied (very unofficially) by their US liaison officers. They point out that although the USN has been fully informed of the tactics needed to successfully protect shipping, they have insisted (against the advice of the USN officers who have been observing RN operations in this field for years) on using outdated tactics and measures that have proved to be ineffective. Churchill cannot, for political reasons, force the USN to amend their methods (although he is sympathetic as the Battle of the Atlantic is still seen as critical). The only thing he is prepared to countenance is the approval of RN-escorted convoys of British owned and controlled shipping, although he promises to raise the matter personally with Roosevelt.
HMS Audacious finishes her sea trials and enters dock for a number of defects to be fixed. She will then sail for the Far East.
With the return convoy safely clear of Japanese air attacks, Somerville is busy concentrating his carrier force. Current plans are to have two fleet carriers and escorts south of Java, a second pair of fleet carriers at Singapore ready to either sail into the South China Sea or reinforce south of Java, and a light fleet carrier supporting the light forces off Borneo. His second light carrier will be based for the time being at Darwin. Depending on how many carriers the IJN moves into the area, he will either bleed them as he retreats under his land based air cover, or attack to sink (especially if a night attack can be carried out).
Feb 12th
The battleship USS Nevada is refloated in Pearl Harbor. Even though struck by a torpedo and possible up to three bombs, she got underway on 7 December 1941, the only battleship that managed to do so. While attempting to leave the harbour, she was hit again and fearing she might sink in the channel and block it, she was beached at Hospital Point. Nevada receives temporary repairs at Pearl Harbor and then sails for Puget Sound, Washington, for complete repairs.
As a result of the heavy losses being taken off the USA to U-boats, a British convoy is formed in the Caribbean to travel to Halifax. This as much as states the lack of confidence in the USN protection provided in this area, but the British are not prepared to keep losing their valuable ships when they could be saved. The measure is met with considerable enthusiasm by the merchant captains, and indeed a number of US-flagged vessels ask to join the convoy. This is in direct disobedience to their orders to travel on their own, an order to which the merchant seaman have turned a Nelsonian blind eye. Although the RN are not (officially) supposed to be convoying any ships not under British control, when asked they point out blandly that the US ships are not part of the convoy, they merely happen to be travelling at the same time and in the same direction.