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Post by Nobunaga Oda on Jul 16, 2017 15:21:28 GMT
Background Info:
China - Basically, the Japs found themselves in a tricky situation in China. They pushed deep into China, however, stiff resistance from the Chinese prevented a total Japanese takeover. An outcome of this is that Japs rely heavily on oil to fuel vehicles for the war in China.
USA - Our friends in USA decided that enough is enough and imposed trade embargoes on the Japs, cutting the Japs off from a major supply/supplier of oil which they desparately need. The Japs also are cut off from other important war materials. USA also prepared a Pacific fleet just to check the Japs' agressiveness.
Allies excluding USA and China - The final British policy concerning the East is to contain the Japanese threat till the West is dealt with. There is a number of defensive plans made to help out:
1) ~300 to 500 aircrafts to be employed for the war.
2) Stationing a strong British fleet at the Singapore Naval Base.
3) The Singapore Strategy.
They also made assumptions that (a) the British would receive early warnings of the invading Japs to allow reinforcements to sail towards the front & (b) USA would help out.
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Post by Nobunaga Oda on Jul 16, 2017 15:24:52 GMT
I'll slowly update this day by day.
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Post by Nobunaga Oda on Jul 17, 2017 15:53:41 GMT
Japan - The Japs saw pulling out of the war in China to be a huge disgrace. Meanwhile, as war rages on in Europe, they saw the Southeast Asian European Colonies to be ripe for the picking having Hitler distract the bulk of the European armed forces at their home front. Hence, the Japs decided to invade Southeast Asia and seize its plentiful resources.
Military Movements - In 1941, the Japs were amassing forces in Hainan Island, China and in French IndoChina (Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos...). The Japs also used their wide network of connections to gather intel on the Allied Froces. In addition to this, pro-independence locals also supported the Japs, resulting in the Japs having more or less everything they need. Ranging from exact Allied strength and positions, very accurate maps of Malaya, local guides, etc.
Meanwhile, the British saw the build up of Japanese forces near the colonies as a threat. They sought to pre-emptively invade southern Thailand to check the Japs. However, this plan, codenamed Operation Matador was abandoned.
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Almost coinciding with the Attack on Pearl Harbor, the Japs launched an all-out assault on the Southeast Asian territories (they invaded Thailand which was technically not a colony).
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Post by Nobunaga Oda on Jul 18, 2017 16:52:31 GMT
Participants:
Allies:
- British Empire:
1) Malaya Command
2) Indian III Corps
3) Malay Regiment
4) 53rd Infantry Brigade and various Commonwealth air forces
5) 8th Division
- Netherlands East Indies air force
- MPAJA (Malayan Peoples' Anti Japanese Army)
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Axis:
- Empire of Japan:
- Twenty-Fifth Army:
1) Imperial Guards
2) 5th Division
3) 18th Division
4) IJA 3rd Air Corps
4) 3 Sentai of the IJA 5th Air Corps
5) IJN 22nd Air Flotilla
- Royal Thai Forces (After signing Armistice)
- Kesatuan Melayu Muda (Anti-Colonial Locals)
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Commanders and leaders:
Allies:
- Arthur Percival (Britain)
- Lewis Heath (Britain)
- Merton Beckwith-Smith (Britain)
- Gordon Bennett (Australia)
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Axis:
- Tomoyuki Yamashita (Japan)
- Takuma Nishimura (Japan)
- Takuro Matsui (Japan)
- Renya Mutaguchi (Japan)
- Phibunsongkhram aka Phibun (Thailand)
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Strength:
Allies:
140,000 troops 253 aircraft
810 artillery pieces
208+ anti-tank and anti-aircraft guns
54 fortress guns 250+ AFVs
15,400+ motor vehicles
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Axis:
70,000 troops 568 aircraft
440+ artillery pieces 200 tanks
3,000+ trucks
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Post by Nobunaga Oda on Jul 18, 2017 16:53:26 GMT
For statistics, I'm just gonna copy direct over from Wikipedia. Others, I'll tweak it abit.
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Post by Erich von Ludendorff on Jul 18, 2017 17:10:49 GMT
You didn't include the Americans garrisoned in Philippines? They were there too before they surrendered.
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Post by Nobunaga Oda on Jul 18, 2017 23:58:03 GMT
You didn't include the Americans garrisoned in Philippines? They were there too before they surrendered. This is just the troop count in Malaya-Singapore only, unless there was a secret American unit that fought in Malaya I'll stick to these records. I glanced at a few websites and found no records of Americans in Malaya. |
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Post by Nobunaga Oda on Jul 19, 2017 16:32:56 GMT
Equipment:
Allied Aerial Status:
Prior to the commencement of hostilities the Allies in Malaya and Singapore had four fighter squadrons: 21 and 453 RAAF, 243 RAF, and 488 RNZAF. They were equipped with the Brewster Buffalo B-399E, which was thought to be pathetic by an aviation historian.
In service, some effort was made to improve performance by removing the armour plate, armoured windshields, radios, gun camera, and all other unnecessary equipment, and by replacing the .50 in (12.7 mm) machine guns with .303 in (7.7 mm) machine guns.
The remaining offensive aircraft consisted of four RAF squadrons of Bristol Blenheim I and IV light bombers (27, 34, 60, 62 Squadrons), two RAAF squadrons (1 and 8) of Lockheed Hudsons, and two RAF squadrons of Vickers Vildebeest torpedo bombers (36 and 100). (Note: The Vildebeest was already seen as obsolete in the European theatre.)
Meanwhile, No 36 Squadron had some Fairey Albacore bi-planes. There were also two PBY Catalina flying boats of No. 205 Squadron RAF and three Catalinas from the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army Air Force at Singapore.
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The squadrons were beset by numerous problems including inadequate spare parts and a lack of support staff, airfields that were difficult to defend against air attack with no early warning of impending attacks, a lack of a clear and coherent command structure, a Japanese spy in the Army air liaison staff (Heenan), and antagonism between RAF and RAAF squadrons and personnel. These will worsen the situation in the air later on during the campaign.
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Post by Nobunaga Oda on Jul 19, 2017 16:34:20 GMT
Note: I have copied over the technical/logistical factors. I'll post about the pilots invovled after clearing the Japs' side of the aerial situation.
Edit: Nevermind, they'll come in a package with the Japs' side of the aerial situation.
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Post by Nobunaga Oda on Jul 20, 2017 15:57:55 GMT
Allied Aerial Status:
Prior to the invasion on 8 December, there were 75 Allied aircraft stationed in northern Malaya and 83 in Singapore. The only fighter squadron in northern Malaya was No. 21 Squadron RAAF that was equipped with 12 Brewster Buffalos.
As a lower-priority theatre, the Allies had comparatively few modern aircraft to challenge the Japanese.
In addition, the Allies did not consider Japanese aircraft a significant threat. In 1941, the Allies assumed that Japan would only have a few hundred poor quality outdated aircraft as the respected Janes All the World's Aircraft for 1941 indicated that the Japs only had a cluster of dated foreign and indigenous aircraft. Japanese pilots were also underrated, considered unlikely to make particularly good pilots.
Many of the pilots lacked adequate training and experience. For example, a total of 20 of the original 169 Buffalos were lost in training accidents during 1941. Those fighter pilots with experience had been trained in methods that were very effective against German and Italian fighters but suicide against the acrobatic Japanese Nakajima Ki-43 "Oscar" and Mitsubishi A6M "Zero". A counter tactic of avoiding dog fights with a slash and run attack was developed by Lieutenant-General Claire Lee Chennault of the Flying Tigers but was too late for the Allied pilots serving in this campaign.
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Japanese Aerial Status:
The Japanese Navy's 22nd Air Flotilla (22nd Kōkū-Sentai) with 110 aircraft and commanded by Vice Admiral Matsunaga Sadaichi operating out of three air bases near Saigon took part in the initial attacks on Malaya.
The 22nd Air Flotilla included the 22nd (Genzan), Mihoro, and Kanoya Air Groups (or Kōkūtai). They were equipped with 33 Type 96 Mitsubishi G3M1 Nell bombers. The Air Flotilla also had 25 Type 96 Mitsubishi A5M4 Claude fighters available. (Note: The Genzan Air Group will play a vital role in the Allied Naval situation later on.)
The Japanese 3rd Air Corps (飛行集団 Hikō Shudan) and three Air Combat Groups (飛行戦隊 Hikō Sentai) of the 5th Air Corps took part in the Malaya Campaign. In total there were 354 IJAAS first line aircraft involved together with the 110 IJNAS aircraft. The Army units were variously equipped with fighters: Nakajima Ki-27 Nate, Nakajima Ki-43 Oscar, Mitsubishi Ki-51 Sonia; bombers: Kawasaki Ki-48 Lily, Mitsubishi Ki-21 Sally, Mitsubishi Ki-30 Ann; and reconnaissance: Mitsubishi Ki-15 Babs, Mitsubishi Ki-46 Dinah.
Most Japanese pilots of the IJAAS units and at least a quarter of the IJNAS pilots had combat experience against the Chinese and Russians. They were all very well trained, in contrast to popular belief.
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Post by Nobunaga Oda on Jul 20, 2017 16:10:40 GMT
In conclusion:
The Allies used outdated, obsolete and slow aircrafts to engage the modern Japanese aircrafts which were fast and nimble, with good manueverability.
This gives the Japs the edge in equiment used.
Meanwhile, large numbers of pilots involved were lacking in training. Even if they are well-trained, they used tactics that were suicidal in the Pacific Theatre. Namely, engaging in dog fights with superior Japanese aircrafts. Futhermore, the Japs had well-trained pilots, with some being veterans fighting against the Russians and Chinese.
This gives the Japs a leg up in tactics employed and pilot exp.
There are still so many more factors, but these are the main factors that crippled the Allied aerial situation.
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Post by Nobunaga Oda on Aug 5, 2017 5:50:58 GMT
War in the Skies (Overall):
8 December 1941 (Day 1) - The Japs sought to cripple Aliied air power by hitting Allied air bases.
It is also on this day, that the first bombs were dropped on Singapore, the Gibraltar of the East.
Many Allied aircrafts were destroyed on the ground. However, those that could take to the skies performed adequately against the Nakajima Ki-27 "Nate". However, the appearance of ever greater numbers of Japanese fighters, including markedly superior types such as the Nakajima Ki-43 "Oscar" soon overwhelmed the Buffalo pilots, both in the air and on the ground.
The Hudsons (from No. 1 Squadron RAAF based at Kota Bharu) dealt first blood against the Malayan landings, & managed to sink 1 transport and damaged 2 other ships off Kota Bahru. They lost 2 Hudsons by 0118h local time (an hour before the attack on Pearl Harbor). The Squadron was transferred to Kuantan the following day.
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9 Decomber 1941 (Day 2) - the Japs operated from newly seized airfields in Singora and Patani, Thailand and Kota Bharu, Malaya. The Allies mounted a counter attack on Singora airfield.
The bombers were intercepted on take-off by a Japanese raid which saw all but one disabled or shot down. The sole surviving bomber, a Bristol Blenheim flown by Arthur Scarf, did manage to bomb Singora.
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10 Dec to 19 Dec, 1941 - This period oversaw the constant shifting of Allied aircrafts.
No 62 squadron had been moved from Alor Star to Butterworth and on 10 December it was moved to Taiping. On 10 December, No 21 Squadron RAAF was withdrawn from Sungai Petani to Ipoh. No 453 Squadron had been sent to protect Force Z on 10 December but arrived after the warships were sinking.
On 13 December, No 21 Squadron RAAF was joined by No 453 Squadron RAAF in Ipoh.
On 15 December both Squadrons were pulled back from Ipoh to Kuala Lumpur, receiving replacement aircraft for those shot down or destroyed. Within the first week of the campaign the Japs had established air superiority.
On 19 December the bombers were moved to Singapore with No 62 Squadron being re-equipped with Hudsons.
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[Minor Gains] One pilot—Sergeant, Malcolm Neville Read of No. 453 Squadron RAAF, sacrificed himself by ramming his Buffalo into a Nakajima Ki-43 Oscar of 64th Sentai over Kuala Lumpur on 22 December.
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The Japs' air superiority forced both Squadrons back to Singapore on 24 December where they were merged until more replacement aircraft could be obtained.
No 64 Squadron had run out of aircraft and its surviving ground-crew and airmen were shipped to Burma.
RAAF No 1 and No 8 squadrons were amalgamated due to aircraft losses.
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[Mid-Battle Conclusion] These actions left the Allied ground troops and shipping completely open to air attack and further weakened the defensive position.
The Japs, in contrast, from the start of the campaign enjoyed close air support and sought to capture bases for their air support to operate out of.
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On 25 December, the Second division of Squadron 5, Royal Netherlands East Indies Army Air Force was deployed to Singapore, contributing to the Allied cause before being recalled to Java on 18 January.
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[Minor Gains] Several Dutch pilots—including Jacob van Helsdingen and August Deibel—responded to a number of air raids over Singapore while stationed at Kallang Airport.
They claimed a total of six aircraft, particularly the Nakajima Ki-27 Nate, which fared poorly in Malaya.
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[Reinforcements] On 3 January 1942, 51 disassembled Hurricane Mk IIBs arrived in Singapore along with 24 pilots (many of whom were veterans of the Battle of Britain) who had been transferred to there with the intention of forming the nucleus of five squadrons.
The 151st Maintenance unit assembled the 51 Hurricanes within two days and of these, 21 were ready for operational service within three days.
The Hurricanes were fitted with bulky 'Vokes' dust filters under the nose and were armed with 12, rather than eight, machine guns. The additional weight and drag made them slow to climb and unwieldy to maneuver at altitude, although they were more effective bomber killers.
The recently arrived pilots were formed into 232 Squadron.
In addition, 488 (NZ) Squadron, a Buffalo squadron, converted to Hurricanes.
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[Actions and Losses] On 18 January, the two squadrons formed the basis of 226 Group.
The following day 453 squadron provided an escort of eight aircraft for five Wirraways and four NEI Glenn Martin bombers, attacking Japanese troops on the Maur River.
All the Martins and one of the Wirraways were lost.
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[Meanwhile...] No 243 Squadron RAF, equipped with Buffalo fighters, was disbanded on 21 January.
232 Squadron became operational on 22 January, the same day as the Genzan Air Group attacked Kallang Airport.
232 Squadron suffered the first losses and victories for the Hurricane in Southeast Asia that day.
Most of the bombers were moved to Sumatra, Indonesia (aka Dutch East Indies at the time) midway through January.
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[More Bad News] Aircraft from 36, 62, and 100 Squadrons were unsuccessful in their attack on the Japanese invasion fleet at Endau on 26 January suffering heavy losses.
The surviving aircraft were evacuated to Sumatra on 31 January.
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[Final Actions + Evac] In mid-January, the three Sentai of the 5th Air Corps returned to Thailand to participate in the Burma Campaign.
The 3rd Air Corps turned its attention to the Netherlands East Indies (aka Indonesia).
The last airworthy Buffalo in Singapore flew out on 10 February, five days before Singapore fell.
The RAAF and RNZAF fighter squadrons left for Sumatra and Java at the beginning of February.
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[Aftermath] In the end, more than 60 Brewster aircraft were shot down in combat, 40 destroyed on the ground, and approximately 20 more destroyed in accidents.
Only about 20 Buffalos survived to reach India or the Dutch East Indies (Indonesia).
There were not clear records of how many Japanese aircraft the Buffalo squadrons shot down, however, RAAF pilots alone managed to shoot down at least 20. Eighty were claimed in total, a ratio of kills to losses of just 1.3 to 1.
Additionally, most of the Japanese aircraft shot down by the Buffalos were bombers.
The Hawker Hurricane, which fought in Singapore alongside the Buffalo from 20 January, also suffered severe losses from ground attack; most were destroyed.
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[Impact] Though Allied aircraft did damage to the Japs, it was unable to achieve superiority in the air and their lossses lead to weakening air cover for ground troops.
Furthermore, the constant relocation due to ground losses meant that operations were interrupted to escape from the incoming Japs.
Even worse, poor air power meant that naval performance is also affected. This will eventually lead to the Japs gaining naval superiority.
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Post by Nobunaga Oda on Aug 8, 2017 16:36:34 GMT
{War at Sea}
Since the outbreak of war in Europe, British resources were directed mainly towards the war effort in Europe, meaning that very little was done to secure her overseas colonies.
3 key factors led to Japanese supremacy at sea:
1) Bombings of Pearl Harbour. As stated in an earlier post, the fleet at Pearl Harbour was neccessary to check the Japs at sea. Destruction of this powerful nearby fleet crippled Allied war effort at sea.
2) Military froces. It is a knowm fact that at this time in the war, the Japs held a pretty powerful fleet. It is only rivalled by the American Fleet at Pearl Harbour and the British anti-navy guns, especially those in Singapore. Air supremacy helped destroy Allied key positions and major British reinforcement later on.
The Japs also operated in the East, meaning ships had to pass through Singapore to challenge the Japs at sea if this is even possible.
Furthermore, British gun installations were never actually intended to resist invasion from the North. And the fact that Singpore is the more heavily fortified colony and not Malaya.
Worse still, poor Allied air power prevented much damage from being dealt to the Japs.
3) Sinking of HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse on 10 December 1941. The only major naval ships to ever join this theatre were sunk by Japanese aircraft after relying on false intelligence as to the location of the landings.
They had no air support. This was the first time any capital ships at sea had been sunk by aircraft.
Basically destroyed the Asian detachment of the "invincible" British Navy.
All of these allowed the Japs to move freely at sea. And, since there is basically no major threat to the Japs' navy, you can imagine them floating close to shore and bombing the pitiful Allied soldiers on land.
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Post by Nobunaga Oda on Aug 8, 2017 17:10:41 GMT
{The Blitz Down Malaya}
Initial Japanese landing faced stiff resistance from the Allies. An example would be the Battle of Kota Bharu on 8 December 1941.
[Battle of Kota Bharu] At the northeadtern corner of Malaya, 5,200 Japs landed. The beaches had been prepared with wire and pillboxes, and were defended with artillery and aircraft. One Japanese transport was sunk, with two damaged. But after heavy fighting the Japanese succeeded in landing most of their troops with about 800 casualties.
This gave the Japs a foothold in Malaya.
[Operation Khorcol] On 8 December 1941, the Japs also landed in southern Thailand. The Thais eventually gave up and signed a treaty with the Japs, granting the Japs an ally in Thailand.
The operation was an advance by commonwealth forces into Thailand to destroy the main road at "The Ledge".
Delays in authorisation and local (Thai) resistance caused the operation to fail.
[Battle of Jitra] Cancellation of Operation Matador forced the Allies into a defensive position at Jitra, Northern Malaya. The area had incomplete defensive works and communication in the region was practically non-existant.
Operation Khorcol was launched in the form of 3 lesser versions of Operation Matador against Thailand to delay the Japs.
Failure to halt the Japs here allowed the Japs to link up with the Japs from Kota Bharu and overrun the Allied positions later on. This also allowed Japs to gain access to armour, which the British believed would never be used due to the thick Malayan jungles. (This concept was developed was earlier before more roads were built.)
[Fall of Penang] Located slightly off the Malayan mainland, the British supposedly declared that it would be abandoned due to it having no military value.
Citizens suffered daily bombings since 8 December and on 17 December, they were left to die as the British abandoned Penang.
[Summarised Developments] By the end of the first week in January 1942, all of northern Malaya had fallen to the Japs.
Meanwhile, Thailand officially signed a Treaty of Friendship with Imperial Japan, which completed the formation of their loose military alliance. Thailand was then allowed by the Japanese to resume sovereignty over several sultanates in northern Malaya, thus consolidating their occupation.
Japs soon took the city of Kuala Lumpur, the future capital of Malaysia. The Japs entered and occupied the city unopposed on 11 January 1942. Singapore was now less than 200 mi (320 km) away for the invading Japs.
[Battle of Kampar] The 11th Indian Division delayed the Japs for a few more precious days as the Japs lacked access their superior weaponry (tanks and air power). The Japs took quite a blow here before an amphibious landing (from the sea) at the region south of this position forced the Indians to retreat.
[Battle of Slim River] Despite the British having prepared this region for battle, a risky night assault by the Japs massacred 2 Indian brigades. This raid surprised the Allies and forced Percival to replace the Indians with the 8th Australian Division.
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