Sanguine Singapore

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Alright Here's one of my TL's that is not quite finished.

WI Singapore Didn’t Surrender?
POD: WI General Percival was killed during the battle for Singapore?

1942

February 15th: On his way to meet with General Yamashita to surrender. General A.E. Percival is shot by mistake. Immediately Lieutenant General Lewis Heath takes command of the forces remaining on Singapore. He is determined not to surrender and he intends to go out in the blaze of glory. With that attitude and a bit too much whiskey General Heath plans a huge offensive to drive the Japanese out of Singapore.
February 16th: British troops on Singapore launch General Heaths offensive. They meet surprising success. Very early on they find that most of the Japanese troops are out of ammunition. With this knowledge the Commonwealth troops continue fighting with insane determination to drive the Japanese out of Singapore.
February 18th: General Yamashita is captured by British forces while trying to retreat from Singapore. Without their General the morale of the Japanese troops is shattered and they are driven out of Singapore by Heath’s victorious troops. Australian 6th and 7th divisions are diverted to Rangoon.( In OTL they were sent back to Austrailia.). The Japanese forces attacking Burma send 2 divisions to reinforce Yamashita. General Heath becomes GOC Singapore.
February 22nd: The 17th Indian division makes it across the Salween river intact.
(In OTL The 17th Indian Division’s retreat was compromised because the Bridge that they were using blew up prematurely and destroyed or stranded two thirds of their men and equipment. They make it across in this TL because there are no Japanese forces in hot pursuit. That gives them more time to lay the charges and to get over the bridge)
The Japanese redirect many forces to reinforce Yamashita’s demoralized forces around Singapore. The Japanese are afraid of a British offensive that would crush the remaining forces however the British are not ready to launch an offensive of any kind. Churchill orders the reinforcing of Singapore.
February 27: Battle of Java Sea occurs same result as OTL
February 28: Japanese forces invade Java. Fighting is much fiercer than OTL because of the troops diverted to “containing Singapore”.
March 7: The Battle for Rangoon takes place, 1st Burmese division and 17th Indian Division aided by Australian 6th and 7th divisions. Hold Rangoon and rebuff the Japanese Forces. Japanese forces surrounding Singapore begin “The Siege of Singapore”. Britain begins to run supplies in by submarine. British forces move many Submarines to operate from Singapore. US orders its Subs to also operate from Singapore in hopes of saving Indonesia.
March 9: Bativia falls to Japanese forces after fierce fighting. Japan now holds the western tip of Java and has beachheads along the north coast.
March 14: Reinforcements arrive at Singapore. Ammunition and Supplies are delivered to the besieged garrison.
March 20: Japanese forces on Western Java advance eastwards conquering half the Island. Japanese forces on the north coast are driven into the sea by Allied assault. Lines are drawn at Java.
April 1st: Japanese forces originally intended for the invasion of Dutch New Guinea reinforce Japanese forces on Western Java. A landing on Eastern Java was proposed but the Japanese General wanted reinforcements to prevent any allied counteroffensives on Western Java. Japanese Carriers launch air strikes on Java and Singapore.
April 10: Japanese Forces Continue attacking Rangoon and begin attacking Central Burma. However No major gains are made. Both British and Japanese take heavy losses.
April 18: Doolittle raid launched of Yorktown
April 22: Last Allied Resistance on Java is crushed. ABDA Headquarters relocated to Port Darwin.
May 1: Japanese Forces in Burma Again try to break British line but fail. The British Rebuff them yet again having learned the lessons of Malaya and Indonesia
May 3:All organized military resistance in Indonesia ends Japan prepares for landings in Dutch New Guinea
May 8: Battle of the Banda Sea: US send carriers Lexington and Yorktown to prevent the invasion of New Guinea. Japan sends carriers Akagi, Kaga, Hiryu , and Ryujo to escort Invasion fleet. Akagi, Kaga, and Hiryu operate in main Carrier force while Ryuko maintains air cover for the convoy. US forces are alerted by a Dutch submarine of a large convoy heading for Dutch New Guinea. US launches first wave of bombers and fighters. Ryujo is quickly overwhelmed and sunk while US Planes wreak havoc on the convoy, dispersing it. Within hours the Japanese convoy reunites and continues on without immediate air cover. Finally, after hours of Searching the Japanese find the location of the American Carriers. They launch their first wave of 40 planes into the teeth of a heavily reinforced American CAP. The Result is that the only US ship sunk is a destroyer, and the Lexington and the Yorktown take minor damage. Then As the Japanese are recovering their planes the US launches its assault on the Main Carrier force. The Akagi is sunk and the Kaga and Hiryu are heavily damaged. B-17s operating at the fringe of their range bomb the Japanese invasion force. This is soon followed by another American Carrier assault and the Japanese convoy is forced to turn back. This is a Huge Morale boost to the American forces they had achieved their first naval victory over the Japanese navy. America begins laying plans for the invasion of New Britain. Yammamoto’s planned strike on Midway is cancelled. Tojo declares all carrier forces are to be used in an offensive aimed at isolating Australia from US and British support.
May 21: Air battle for Singapore heats up as the Carriers enforcing a blockade are withdrawn to participate in other Japanese ventures. British Eastern Fleet uses this opportunity to run massive quantities of supplies to the beleaguered garrison. Massive air battle takes place as the Japanese Army air force engages British Carrier based planes. Hermes is sunk. Singapore receives 3 new squadrons of Hurricanes as well as ammunition and supplies.
May 22: Kaga, and Hiryu arrive in port. Japanese work crews begin frantic efforts to repair them in time to participate in Tojo’s planned offensive. They are expected to be ready by the beginning of July.
May 30: Yammamoto’s three carriers Shokaku, Zuikaku, and Soryu, begin launching carrier raids aimed at disrupting Australian troop movements to New Guinea
June 5: More Japanese army air units begin to arrive in the Singapore theatre. Air battle over Singapore intensifies.
June 6: The 18th army under Tomitoro Horii arrives in Singapore theatre. Japanese offensive to take place June 15th.
June 15: After months of building up forces to contain and eventually conquer Singapore, the Japanese begin their offensive aimed at taking over Singapore. Spearheaded by the 18th army the Japanese forces land at the North shore of Singapore. Even though the British are outnumbered more than 3 to 1 fighting is incredibly fierce and the Japanese have to pay heavily for every inch of ground they take.
June 25: Japanese forces enter the City of Singapore. House to house fighting ensues the Japanese take heavy losses. (In OTL Street to street fighting never occurred because the population had not been evacuated. In this TL Singapore has been turned into a fortress with all noncombatants evacuated.)
June 30: The Singapore Naval base falls after 13 days of intense fighting. Early in the campaign the Japanese encircled the Base yet its defenders held out. By the end of the battle the Japanese have lost 1000 men. Many of them were highly trained and irreplaceable. The British troops meanwhile are evacuated by the RN’s assets anchored in the base.
July 3: Japanese Carriers Kaga, and Hiryu, Join Yammamoto’s carriers Shokaku, Zuikaku, Soryu, and Shoho. To participate in an all or nothing battle aimed at destroying part of the American Carrier fleet and invading New Guinea.
July 5: Upon hearing of the above mentioned events the Americans transfer the Carriers Enterprise, and Hornet to join the Lexington and Yorktown in order to defend New Guinea.
July 17-18: The Second battle of the Banda Sea begins; it is the biggest Carrier battle ever, involving more than 11 carriers. This is the pivotal battle of the Pacific war a victory for the Japanese would mean naval dominance and a second chance for Japanese imperialism. A victory for the Americans means that the War in the pacific could be concluded much sooner than expected. The Japanese take the initiative and launch the first air strike. American resistance is stiff and the only result is the sinking of the American destroyer Phelps. The Americans are quick to retaliate and launch a strike of their own consisting of mostly Dauntless bombers having learned the lessons of the Banda Sea. (In which many American torpedo bombers were lost.). The Result is the Sinking of the Carrier Shoho. The battle continues into the night with both sides launching Air strikes and achieving little. However American bombers manage to sink the Hiryu. In retaliation for that strike Japanese bombers launch a ferocious attack, which sinks the Lexington and cripples the Yorktown. Yammamoto is ecstatic it looks like victory is within his grasp. Dawn breaks and thanks to a British submarine the Americans launch the First Strike. The Japanese had not been expecting a strike so soon and are caught by surprise. The Result is devastating, both the Shokaku and Zuikaku are sunk, and the Kaga is crippled. Upon hearing these orders Yammamoto orders a full retreat and the abandonment of operations against Allied forces in New Guinea. The results of the battle are staggering, the Japanese lose 5 out of their 6 carriers, and the American’s lose two out of their four. Japanese shipyards are now busy trying to convert as many hulls into stopgap carriers to try and halt the inevitable American advance.
August 5th: Last British troops leave Singapore. During the whole campaign losses have been atrocious. The Japanese have lost over 12 000 men and 200 aircraft. The British did not fare much better losing around 11 000 men and 75 aircraft. However many historians claim that the Battle of Singapore not the Battles of the Banda Sea that decided the war in the pacific. For Singapore prevented the Japanese from invading New Guinea before the American defenses were ready, and prevented them from cutting the Burma Road. Japan now is in dire straits. The Chinese Army is gaining strength and is no longer an unorganized rabble but an army capable of holding its own against the Japanese. Also British forces in the east are rebuffing Japanese offensives continually. The Americans now have wrested control of the seas away form the Japanese and are ready to drive Japan back to their homeland.
August 7: In an lightning move American forces land on New Britain and New Ireland seizing several key bases. American carriers bomb Rabaul continually sinking many ships and damaging the base facility immensely. (Japanese presence on this Island is much weaker than OTL. However with the Dire Straits Japan is in the troops are ordered to fight to the death.)
August 20: Heavy fighting for “Bloody” Ridge occurs in New Britain Japanese Troops try to counter attack but are rebuffed by superior American forces.
August 29: Japanese troops begin “Sucide attacks” on American positions although easily defeated these troops are a constant “pain in the arse” for American troops.
September16: Japanese forces try to break the blockade of Rabaul by sneaking supplies in. This results in many skirmishes called the “Dark Battles” by US troops mostly because they were fought at night. The Japanese lose 7 Destroyers, 3 Cruisers, and 7 transports during these battles. The Americans lose 4 Cruisers and 8 Destroyers.
October 14: After a stalemate on New Britain the US begins its offensive anew driving beleaguered Japanese forces Back.
November 24: Battle for Rabaul begins US marines encircle the remaining Japanese forces. Fighting intensifies significantly.
December 13: Suicide Charge Made by Last Japanese forces. 274 Men with explosives taped to themselves, sneak up on US lines and detonate. Casualties are enormous over 600 Marines are killed and many more wounded.
December 14: US forces raise the flag over Rabaul The conquest of New Britain is Complete.
December 21-24: Conference held between Roosevelt and the Pacific commanders. Although the Pentagon favors Nimitz’ plan McArthur’s prestige forces them to compromise for a Twin drive by both McArthur and Nimitz (Just like OTL).

1943

January 31: US Marines land on Tarawa and Makin and encounter heavy resistance taking heavy losses. However fewer Japanese troops on the Island means lower losses than OTL.
February 7: All of Tarawa secured by US Forces Total US losses: 800 dead 1900 wounded. The entire Japanese Garrison is dead save for 129 Korean laborers.
February 20: All of the Gilbert Islands are secured by US Forces
March 14: All of Marshall Islands are secured by US Forces
March 20: US Forces prepare for the landings on the Marianas. These landings are to take place on June 3.
May 3-June 12 : The Chinese Nationalist Army launches a major offensive aimed at liberating Manchuria. At first the advance is swift the Chinese Army makes use of its New American equipment. (In this TL the Burma road was never shut down so The Nationalist army has much better equipment than OTL) However the Japanese army transfers many divisions earmarked for the pacific back to Manchuria to contain the offensives. After constant counterattacks the Lines are redrawn at the 1937 borders the Japanese now only holing onto Manchuria and losing the valuable southern areas including Peking and other chief cities.
June 3: US Marines land on Saipan. Japanese mount considerable resistance US losses are heavy but Japanese losses are heavier. Under direct orders from Tojo, Yammamoto gathers every Japanese Naval asset available to him in hopes of defeating the American forces. However he knows that Japan has already lost the war and that even a decisive victory won’t stop the allied advance.
June: 7-8: The Battle of the Philippine Sea takes place. The Japanese manage to throw up 5 carriers ( Soryu, Zuiho, and 3other carriers converted from Cruise liners) and escorts Against 6 American Carriers ( Saratoga, Wasp, Long Island, Independence, Yorktown, Hornet) The Result is almost total annihilation for the Japanese. They lose 4 carriers including the Soryu and over 300 aircraft. Meanwhile the Americans only lose 100 aircraft.
June 9: US Marines land on Guam
June 10: US Marines land on Tinian .
July 24: All Japanese Resistance on the Mariana’s ends. Plans are laid for the landings on Leyte. US Forces Marshaled. Landings to take place August 7.
August 7: US Troops land on Leyte after endless bombardment by both battleships and Carrier base Aircraft. The Japanese put up heavy resistance but fail to inflict heavy losses on the Invading troops.
August 11-24: Japanese Cruisers and Destroyers begin naval actions against US Naval assets. Over 3 dozen minor battles take place in 13 days. The US loses 10 supply ships, 7 destroyers, and 1 cruiser in the battles. However The Japanese lose 20 submarines, 10 destroyers, and 7 cruisers
September 30: All Japanese Resistance on Leyte ends. US Forces begin landings on the other Islands.
November 31: All of the Southern Philippine Islands are under American control.
December 4: Battle for Luzon Begins
December 15-19: Battle for Manila. Although not as bad as the street fighting in Singapore, The Battle for Manila is quite bloody for both sides.
December 21: Preparations for a landing at Iwo Jima are made. All carriers available including the some of the new Essex class are mustered. Landings are to take place January 2 1944.

1944

January 2: US forces land on Iwo Jima and face the heaviest resistance encountered so far in the Pacific campaign. The entire island has been honeycombed with Bunkers and Pillboxes covering the island. The US takes horrendous losses and many casualties during the first day alone.
January 27: The First flag is raised over Iwo Jima.
February 4: Last Resistance on Iwo Jima ends. Total US losses 2023 dead 3421 wounded. Plans for operation Iceberg or the invasion of Okinawa are made. Also plans are laid for the invasion of Japan.
February 5 Last Japanese resistance in the Philippines ends.
March 3 –April 15 : Operation Iceberg commences early in the morning Thousands of Shells from battleships bombard the Small Island. Soon after that wave upon wave of carrier based aircraft pummel the small Island. Finaly after 10 hours of bombardment the marines go to shore. The fighting is the fiercest of the Pacific war However overwhelming US numbers allow them to slowly gain the advantage over the well entrenched Japanese forces. But the fighting is slow and horrendously expensive by the end of the operation over 5000 US troops are dead and many more wounded. But the cost to the Japanese is Horrific. Everyone Women and Children included is dead. At the end of the battle the remaining troops and all the civilian occupants of the island commit Hari Kiri.
April 16: After the incredibly bloody operations in Iwo Jima and Okinawa the option of invading Japan is ruled out. So after much debate it is decided that the US Navy will implement a blockade while the Strategic bombers of the 20th Air force begin a bombing campaign aimed at first crippling Japans war industry, then crippling its rail system. Such a campaign is estimated to bring Japan to its knees within 6 months.
April 20th Blockade instituted. US Bombers begin bombing Japanese Airfields.
April 30: After 10 days of around the clock bombing the Japanese Air force finds itself incapacitated. Now Air defense of Japan must rely on the AA guns alone.
May 7- August 30: Commonwealth and Chinese forces launch a massive offensive against the depleted forces along the Burmese border. British forces now having superior Armor and Air support drive the Japanese forces back into Malaya (Siam promptly declares neutrality. Malaysia is liberated quite quickly and Singapore is too on June 8 1944 after Japanese forces pull a “Dunkirk” like maneuver evacutating their troops to Indo-China. Chinese forces push into Indo-China and Engage Japanese forces at Hanoi on June 10 1944. The Result is Japanese forces being continually driven back into Southern Vietnam where Ho-Chi- Minh’s Guerrilla movements aid the Chinese forces immensely. By the end of August the Japanese force have been driven out of all of South East Asia.
September 1st Japans war industry is totally incapacitated it is now almost completely incapable of producing anything but bullets and even those simple factories are being systematically destroyed. Although it has been tried to move the factories underground the lack of an Albert Speer Figure makes the transition impossible.
December 17 Japans Railroad System is now totally destroyed 3 months of continuous US bombing has left the rail system in shambles. Now the Emperor sues for peace because he knows that without the Rail System in operation and without incoming food Japan will face a massive famine very soon. However the Army disposes of the emperor in a quick Coup d’etat and General Horii becomes Prime Minister. The Emperor’s son is installed as a puppet regime.

Alright Now I'm Stuck.

Japan has been bombed into dust and is facing widespread famine. The A-
Bomb won't be ready for a while.

So Is the Armies Coup of the Emperor Feasable?

And What will result of this TL?
 
Singapore

As I posted on the other website re a stouter defence of Singapore, the notion of Singapore holding out after 15 Feb 1942 is interesting, but what about other factors such as the lack of food supplies and all the island's reservoirs being in Jap hands at that time, and the total Jap air supremacy ? Under these circumstances, any renewed British and Cth resistance to Yamashita would've been limited and only really delayed the inevitable. 1 must look further back in discussing other factors such as better defensive positions being built before the war, the provision to Singapore and Malaya of 200 Hurricanes for the RAF instead of OTL being sent to Russia and of adequate armour and artillery, and jungle-training for all major combat units garrisoned in Malaya instead of OTL relying on roadblock tactics which enabled the Japs to outflank and rout Cth forces by moving thru the jungle.
 
all I ever thought about was the idea of

Churchill not sending the 100,000 plus British troops into Singapore shortly before the surrender. Instead, sending them to Australia or Burma.

Don't know the effect, but one definite effect would at least delay if not prevent their becoming pow's and often dying at Japanese hands in that circumstance.

But the idea of Singapore holding out this way...shortening the War, essentially, by a year...quite a feat.

I've seen a similar shortening of the War on other fronts proposed, including one involving a different outcome for Operation Compass in North Africa. Another--which I also dealt with on a much less massive and changing way--was the campaign in Java, especially in the Java Sea.

Shortening the War would be a wonderful thing, so no wonder so many have attempted it (after the fact, of course--sadly).
 
One small point to consider

might be that Hirohito by mid-War was a secret "dove" on the War himself and was working to set up a negotiated settlement. He was starting to get rid of a few hawks. Almost the opposite of Hitler who was getting rid of doves. This might factor into the military rebellion scenario, too.
 
I like idea of shortening the war. But USA committing majority of pacific resources in Indonesia before it's territories isn't right.

If USA is going to commit that much resource, it will be Better to hold on the philippines and resupply them. Or commit to defend midway or Hawaii just like otl.

The most fantastic thing about it is British resupply of air squadron in Asia even though busy in Europe, while USA can't even resupply their own. I guess the British are less busy than the Americans? A resupply in the philippines, the US colony would have held.

I wonder what happened the rest of the empire troops. The British outnumbered the japs in otl 3 to 1 in battle for Singapore. The British outnumbered japan 2 to 1 in Malaya otl. The force multiplier japan had was 5 to 1 advantage in aircraft 200 tanks vs none for the British in otl.
 

CalBear

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Churchill not sending the 100,000 plus British troops into Singapore shortly before the surrender. Instead, sending them to Australia or Burma.

Don't know the effect, but one definite effect would at least delay if not prevent their becoming pow's and often dying at Japanese hands in that circumstance.

But the idea of Singapore holding out this way...shortening the War, essentially, by a year...quite a feat.

I've seen a similar shortening of the War on other fronts proposed, including one involving a different outcome for Operation Compass in North Africa. Another--which I also dealt with on a much less massive and changing way--was the campaign in Java, especially in the Java Sea.

Shortening the War would be a wonderful thing, so no wonder so many have attempted it (after the fact, of course--sadly).
Warning

Next time you go into a crypt and pull out a rotting corpse expect to spend a week with it on the beach.

DO NOT Necro threads that have been dead since the start of the 2nd Bush Administration. In fact don't Necro at all.
 
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