The Whale Has Wings Vol 2 - Taranto to Singapore

by David Row

  16th Sep

  The last of the 'Formidable' class carriers, HMS Bulwark, enters commission. She will be the first RN carrier to carry both the Sea Eagle and the Spearfish planes, and her squadrons will embark with these next month once she is ready to deploy. It is intended for her and HMS Implacable to then join up in Ceylon where they will work up with the new aircraft. It is also hoped to send the squadron on a visit to Australia for propaganda purposes.

  24th Sep

  The first German U-Boat passes Gibraltar into the Mediterranean. Over the next two weeks six more U-Boats will pass into the Mediterranean. The German Submarine Force will later have about 50% of its active submarine force engaged in the Mediterranean, which is viewed by U-boat command as a major strategic error in taking the pressure off the vital Atlantic convoys to Britain.

  The first 'Liberty Ship' is launched in the USA at Baltimore. The British government is becoming a little more hopeful about the Battle of the Atlantic. Sinkings in the first 6 months of the year averaged some 300,000tons a month. Since July, it has been under 100,000. The shipbuilding capacity of the Empire is somewhat more than 2,000,000 tons, so if the sinkings can be kept at the current level, and ships start to arrive in numbers from the USA, there is cause for some careful optimism. The new frigates will start to come into service in the New Year, and new weapons and asdic will soon be available for them.

  Soviet forces in the Crimea have now been isolated by the German Army. Hitler orders all direct attacks on Leningrad to be stopped - the city will be besieged and starved out.

  General Marshall requests Admiral Stark delay converting three freighters into escort carriers in order to increase the shipping lift for the reinforcements being sent to the Philippines.

  29th Sep

  Convoy PQ-1 leaves Iceland bound for Archangel with ten merchant ships, escorted only by one cruiser and two destroyers. There are no German attacks on the convoy, which reaches Archangel on October 11th. At the same time Convoy QP-1 leaves Archangel headed for Scapa Flow.

  Hitler orders that Leningrad be wiped off the face of the earth and its population exterminated.

  The troop convoy carrying 7th Australian division arrives at Singapore. The division is hoped to be operational soon, as the threat is increasing and the division has to work out how to fight effectively in terrain far different than the desert.

  The first production Lancaster bomber makes its first flight. New tactics are being developed to attack German targets using the large bomb bay of the plane for heavier bombs to supplement those carried by the Halifax.

  HMS Warspite, HMAS Australia and HMAS Sydney arrive in Sydney for a propaganda visit. They will remain in Australia for two weeks, visiting a number of ports filled with enthusiastic crowds before heading to Singapore. The first squadron of Cormorant divebombers arrives in Malaya, flown by RAF pilots.

  2nd Oct

  An Anglo-American mission led by Lord Beaverbrook has agreed to boost military aid to Russia next year. The USA will allocate 1,200 tanks a month to Britain and the USSR between July 1942 and January 1943, and a further 2,000 tanks a month for the following six months. This will mean initial US consignments of 400 tanks a month for the Soviets from 1 July.

  In addition the USA will send 3,600 aircraft to Russia between 1 July 1942 and 1 July 1943, over and above the planes already being sent by Britain. The Soviets in return will supply Britain and the USA with urgently needed raw materials.

  The German attack on Moscow, Operation Typhoon, begins. 3rd and 4th Panzer Groups and the 4th, 2nd and 9th Armies join Guderian's forces which started their attack two days ago. This is the "last, great decisive battle of the war", according to a communiqué by Hitler to his troops, and today's attack makes rapid progress.

  A national coalition government is finally formed in Australia. The leader of the Labor party, John Curtin, will become deputy Prime Minister. There has been considerable controversy over the last months, with the Labor party in particular wanting a greater emphasis on the threat from Japan. Menzies has used his speech to emphasize the substantial forces Britain is sending to the Far East to help protect Australia (and the arrival of 7th Australian at Singapore only days ago has not hurt his cause), and this has swayed a number of MP's who had been critical of what they had seen as a lack of support from Britain. As a result, although it will be far more fractious than its British equivalent, just enough support has been found to form a national government, although observers are worried that a war with Japan will strain it if defeats or setbacks occur.

  5th Oct

  Brereton is briefed by Marshall, Gerow, Arnold, and Spaatz about the situation in the Philippines. Brereton stated "in the event of war it was almost certain to incur destruction of a bomber force put in the Philippine Islands without providing adequate antiaircraft defence"; Marshall responded that he and Arnold were taking a "calculated risk". Brereton is worried that the lessons learned in Europe were being completely ignored in placing heavy bombers in the islands without adequate protection.

  HMS Implacable and HMS Prince of Wales arrive at Trincomalee, where the carrier will conduct extensive working up of her airgroup and their new fighters. Eighteen of the carriers SeaLance will go on to Singapore, the carrier will retain twelve for A/S and reconnaissance duties; eighteen of the new Spearfish will arrive next week having flown from Britain

  Two squadrons of Goshawk fighters arrive in Malaya. They will be based at Singapore for defence of the naval base and as replacements for the carriers if needed.

  12th Oct

  Kaluga falls to the German forces advancing on Moscow. The worsening weather has caused problems with the advance, but has not been able to stop it. Today civilians start to be evacuated from Moscow.

  14th Oct

  British and French forces land on the island of Rhodes. Unlike their earlier attacks on smaller islands in the Dodecanese, Rhodes is both fortified and has a garrison of nearly 8,000 men. Every available landing craft is used in the operation, the initial attack being made by a brigade of the 6th Australian Division and a brigade of the French Foreign Legion, led by the commandoes of Leyforce. The initial landings are backed up by a British brigade and the 1st Polish brigade, and includes some 40 tanks.

  The landings go as well as expected - although there were a number of problems, the experienced troops managed to overcome these, and the defenders were slowly pushed back in a series of actions. Air cover from the RAF on Crete stopped any serious interference from the Italian air force, although a number of RAF fighters were lost; for the first time the Italians were using the MC.202 fighter in numbers. This fighter was much superior in performance to earlier Italian designs, but still suffered from a light armament. The landing forces were also supported by two RN cruisers and the battleship Valiant, whose 15" shells cause a number of Italian positions to surrender.

  The subdual of the islands defences takes some three days. The Italian navy does try to intervene - on the night of the second day a force of one light cruiser and two destroyers attempt to intercept the ships containing the second wave of troops in a night action. This proves unsuccessful as they run into the radar-equipped HMS Valiant and her escorting ships. The Italian cruiser was sunk, despite a desperate but unsuccessful torpedo attack by two of the destroyers, one of which was sunk in the action.

  This was by far the biggest amphibious assault tried by the British, and like the earlier, smaller ones showed a number of new problems and shortcomings that needed to be addressed. Rhodes would be garrisoned by a reinforced brigade and the Italian airfields used to allow the RAF to dominate the skies over the Dodecanese.

  Chapter 18 - The Road to Pearl Harbor

  16th Oct

  In Washington the Chief of Naval Operations sends the following message to the fleet commanders: "The resignation of the Japanese Cabinet has created a grave situation X If a new Cabinet is formed it will probably be strongly nationalistic and anti American X If the Konoye Cabinet remains the effect will
be that it will operate under a new mandate which will not include rapprochement with the US X In either case hostilities between Japan and Russia are a strong possibility X Since the US and Britain are held responsible by Japan for her present desperate situation there is also a possibility that Japan may attack these two powers X In view of these possibilities you will take due precautions including such preparatory deployments as will not disclose strategic intention nor constitute provocative actions against Japan X Second and third addressees (in the Pacific) inform appropriate Army and Naval district authorities X Acknowledge XX"

  18th Oct

  Richard Sorge, one of the most successful spies in the history of espionage is arrested in Tokyo. The son of a German engineer and a Russian mother, he was brought up in Germany, joined the Communist Party, and became a Soviet agent in 1928, serving in America, China and Japan under journalistic cover. He then got permission to go back to Germany and become a member of the Nazi Party. He returned to Tokyo as correspondent for a Frankfurt newspaper. His greatest service to the Soviet cause was also his last. Just three days ago he was able to tell Moscow that the Japanese have no intention of attacking Russia. This means that Russia will be able to transfer divisions from Siberia to defend Moscow.

  Japan's deadlocked political crisis has ended with the appointment of the army strongman General Hideki Tojo, aged 57, as the new prime minister in the wake of the Konoye cabinet's resignation. General Tojo retains his portfolio as war minister. It is the first time that Japan has had a serving general as prime minister. One of his first actions has been to extend the deadline for diplomacy to prevent war with the United States until 25 November. This overturns the decision of the last imperial conference, calling for a decision on war or peace with the US no later than 15 October, which divided the Konoye cabinet and precipitated its resignation. General Tojo insisted on being given a "clean slate" on this issue before accepting his appointment from the Emperor.

  HMAS Brisbane arrives at Brisbane to a tumultuous civic reception. She will remain for a week, then she will join her sister carrier Melbourne at Singapore.

  The French battleship Richeleau accompanied by two cruisers sail from Oran, headed for Gibraltar. There they will join HMS Bulwark and HMS Anson and go on to Ceylon, where she will join in exercises with the forming British Far Eastern Fleet before heading to Singapore.

  The first two full RAAF Sparrowhawk squadrons arrive in Malaya. While flights of the aircraft have been based here for exercises and to test how the aircraft performs in the tropical environment, these are the first active squadrons to be based there

  20th Oct

  "Regarding the Japanese Air Force, which many people, he said, were inclined to discount as a second-rate body equipped with obsolete aircraft and lacking skilful and daring pilots, Air Vice-Marshal Pulford said that he certainly does not underrate its capacity. When it was suggested to him that it might be compared with the Italian Air Force, he pointed out how completely the RAF gained the mastery of the skies of the Middle East even when the Italians possessed great numerical superiority. He thinks that what the RAF has done in the Middle East it could certainly do in the Far East against the Japanese. One of the best Japanese fighters is the 'O' naval fighter, but the Sparrowhawks at present with the RAF in Malaya and Burma would have no difficulty in dealing with them.

  The Japanese, he said, have two bombers of the Mitsubishi type, one of which is used by the Navy and one by the Army -they are about equal in performance to the Whitley bomber in the R.A.F. He believes that Messerschmitt 109s are being produced in limited numbers in Japanese factories."

  -- "The Times", Oct 20, 1941

  While reports as to the performance of the latest Japanese fighters is minimal, the RAF currently consider them to be similar to that of Italian designs, that is small, agile and lightly armed, but with longer range. Given that the RAF was able to dominate the Italian Air force, they see no reason why they cannot do the same to the Japanese.

  General Alexander is very concerned at the lack of help his preparations are getting from the civil authorities in Malaya. After a number of increasingly vitriolic telegrams between him and the War Cabinet, he has a meeting which is later described as 'turbulent'. As a result, far more civilian labour is released, and local industry is forbidden to poach them. The most urgent need is to complete the protected shelters for the planes, first at Singapore then further north if time permits. Alexander has also discussed the possibilities for construction at least one defence line north of the city with his engineer and General Percival. The conclusion is that it would cause more panic than it was worth to start construction now, but that the defences would be planned and ready to be implemented the moment Japan attacks. Few people in the military think that an attack is more than a short time away, and pressured by Alexander preparations are going ahead as fast as possible.

  HMS Bulwark and HMS Anson sail from Britain. The carrier will fly off a squadron of Cormorant divebombers to Gibraltar en route. They are expected to arrive at Trincomalee on the 10th November, where they will spend a month working up. Bulwark is the first carrier to sail with a full complement of the new Sea Eagle and Spearfish; as these are larger than the older aircraft they replace she has to carry eight planes on deck, but as this is now usual practice except in exceptionally bad weather it is not seen as a problem. They will be joined at Gibraltar by the French battleship Richelieu and her escorts.

  21st October

  The Foreign Office in Tokyo sends the following message to the Japanese Embassy in Washington: "The new cabinet differs in no way from the former one in its sincere desire to adjust Japanese-United States relations on a fair basis. Our country has said practically all she can say in the way of expressing of opinions and setting forth our stand. We feel that we have now reached a point where no further positive action can be taken by us except to urge the United States to reconsider her views. We urge, therefore, that, choosing an opportune moment, either you or Wakasugi let it be known to the United States by indirection that our country is not in a position to spend much more time discussing this matter. Please continue the talks, emphasizing our desire for a formal United States counter-proposal to our proposal of 25 September."

  A squadron of Hudson bombers arrives to be used by Coastal command in Singapore. These planes have been very effective in use in Europe, and they will be used mainly for reconnaissance and anti-submarine patrols. A section of Whirlwind reconnaissance planes also arrives - the ten aircraft are expected to give the command better intelligence, especially as they do not think the Japanese have any planes capable of catching them.

  The first part of 1st Armoured Division arrives in Singapore; the most urgent job they will have on arrival is to show the Malay and Indian divisions how to work with tanks - the Australians already know, but these divisions have never worked with tanks. It is not expected there will be time to make them expert, but at least a basic familiarity will be useful. To save time, the tanks are not tropicalised; this will be done once more of the division has arrived.

  23rd October

  The first four U-class submarines arrive at Trincomalee. It is intended to deploy them from Singapore shortly once work on the base has been completed to accommodate them. Further U and T class submarines will arrive over the next two weeks, as will a depot ship.

  27th Oct

  The sailing of two battalions of troops from Canada to Hong Kong has had to be postponed due to engine problems with the liner Awtea. This is not bad news for the Canadians, who consider the troops not yet sufficiently trained and ready for deployment. As no other liner is available, the troops will carry on with their original training program until new transport can be arranged.

  HMS Warspite, HMAS Australia and HMAS Sydney arrive at Singapore to join Force Z. Talks have been going on for some time with the Dutch and (unofficially) with Admiral Hart for the Americans. Given the naval force the RN is assembling, the Dutch have agreed that their naval forces will be unde
r RN command (subject of course to their need to defend the DEI), and work is proceeding at making it easier for the two navies to operate together. While Admiral Hart is unable to agree to anything similar, USN officers are included in the plans for joint operations, 'just in case'.

  1st Nov

  Japanese Combined Fleet Operational Order Number 1 - the plan for the attack on Pearl Harbor, Malaya and the Dutch East Indies is issued.

  Joseph C Grew, the US ambassador to Japan, sends a second telegram to President Roosevelt warning that the Japanese may be planning an attack on an American target. The report is filed.

  The first four long-range T-class submarines arrive in Ceylon for deployment, as does the depot ship and supplies for the two submarines squadrons.

  The convoy taking 9th Australian Division arrives at Singapore. Due to the rising tension the division will deploy by the 16th; a number of the 7th Australian Division will be tasked with helping to get them ready for operations as soon as possible. They are accompanied by the second part of the 1st Armoured Brigade with 60 tanks. Only two of the division's brigades are on this convoy; the third and final one will not arrive until the 22nd November due to a shortage of suitable shipping.

  3rd Nov

  General Marshall states at a Joint Board meeting that there would only be sufficient B-17's in the Philippines to “have a deterrent effect on Japanese operations.” The Joint Board concurred in opposing the State Department’s hard line towards Japan and advocated the USA making minor concessions to buy time. Major General Brereton arrives on Pan American Clipper to take up his appointment as Commander, FEAF. He brings with him a draft of a revised Rainbow-5 plan for the defense of the Philippines.