The US Rangers used British LCA's to land on Omaha Beach, because they were armoured.
(Something seldom mentioned in any history)
(Something seldom mentioned in any history)
Sir John Valentine Carden Survives. Part 2.
- Thread starter allanpcameron
- Start date
There were LVTs used on Normandy. Only a handful and none of the "Assault" variant with a gun in a turret. This was revealed several years ago on the Bovington website which published some pictures of their (limited) use. It caused a fair amount of controversy at the time, with the usual "It never happened" being claimed. There were only about half a dozen but they were there. Its like the "there were no Marines on Normandy" claim. There were, but again only a handful as Beach Party personnel.
14 January 1942. Penang, Malaya.
allanpcameron
Donor
14 January 1942. Penang, Malaya.
The security of the island of Penang, with its port facilities, fixed defences and stocks of ammunition and stores had long been a concern. The two Battalions which had been allocated to its defence had been sent to North Borneo, and it had quickly become clear that if 11th Indian Division was pushed south of the island, that it would be mostly indefensible. The Cornwallis and Batu Muang forts had been built to protect the sea approaches to Penang, and the 6-inch guns of 8th Heavy Battery RA and 20th Battery Hong Kong and Singapore Royal Artillery, along 2nd Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Indian Artillery and the searchlight detachment had been ordered to move to Singapore when the Indian Battalions had been withdrawn.
Intermittent air raids on Penang had caused extensive damage to buildings and dock installations. Half the town was set on fire and a break- down in the municipal services resulted. The only troops on the island were 3rd Battalion, Straits Settlements Volunteer Force (Penang and Province Wellesley Volunteer Corps) [SSVF]. Made up of mostly men of Asian origin, these had taken over most of the policing of the island when most of the police deserted after the first couple of Japanese air raids. Brigadier Cyril Lyon (Resident Counsellor and the Fortress Commander) had decided in December to evacuate all European women and children, together with the sick and wounded from the Military Hospital. These had been transferred to the mainland by the night of 13 December.
Subsequently, all military and food stores, and as many of the population who wished to, had been shipped south on the many boats and junks that were in the harbour. The gunboats HMS Dragonfly and Scorpion had been involved, with other small craft to offer some protection to the boats as they hugged the coast.
As the terminus of ocean cables connecting Malaya with India and Ceylon, it had an important strategic role in addition to its other facilities. The Royal Engineers had been asked to send a detachment onto the island to make sure that anything that may have been of use to the enemy would be completely destroyed, and unfortunately that included the cable office and infrastructure. This had been delayed as long as possible, but once 11th Division’s position on the River Muda had been lost, the explosives were detonated and the engineers were taken off in RN boats.
The men of 3rd Battalion SSVF had been given a choice whether to stay on the island if that was where their family was, or keep fighting by joining the other battalions on Singapore Island. The fact that their families had mostly chosen to flee the island for Singapore meant that when the Royal Engineers withdrew, so did the 3rd Battalion SSVF. That meant that when the Japanese troops arrived on the island, they found it mostly deserted and destroyed.
The arrival in Singapore of many more refugees from places like Penang had caused something of a ruckus among the Civilian Administration. Not only did they constitute ‘more mouths to feed’, they were also predominately of Chinese and Indian origin. While the Europeans were welcomed and made comfortable, there were complaints, especially among the soldiers of the SSVF of the way their families were being treated. It wasn’t clear yet to the civilian administration whether they had to prepare for a Malta type experience of being besieged, or if the refugees would be able to go home once the Japanese had been thrown back.
For General Auchinleck, when he was eventually informed of this, had a brief call with Sir Shenton Thomas, the Governor, encouraging him to not undermine the fighting spirit of the Volunteer Forces. There were two Battalions of the Malay Regiment and four each of the SSVF and Federated Malay States Volunteer Forces. Those ten Battalions were playing an important part in the overall defence of Malaya and Singapore. Many in the Chinese community still had strong ties to families who had been fighting the Japanese in China since 1936. To alienate them, and all the other natives, was unhelpful at best and dangerous at worst.
The security of the island of Penang, with its port facilities, fixed defences and stocks of ammunition and stores had long been a concern. The two Battalions which had been allocated to its defence had been sent to North Borneo, and it had quickly become clear that if 11th Indian Division was pushed south of the island, that it would be mostly indefensible. The Cornwallis and Batu Muang forts had been built to protect the sea approaches to Penang, and the 6-inch guns of 8th Heavy Battery RA and 20th Battery Hong Kong and Singapore Royal Artillery, along 2nd Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Indian Artillery and the searchlight detachment had been ordered to move to Singapore when the Indian Battalions had been withdrawn.
Intermittent air raids on Penang had caused extensive damage to buildings and dock installations. Half the town was set on fire and a break- down in the municipal services resulted. The only troops on the island were 3rd Battalion, Straits Settlements Volunteer Force (Penang and Province Wellesley Volunteer Corps) [SSVF]. Made up of mostly men of Asian origin, these had taken over most of the policing of the island when most of the police deserted after the first couple of Japanese air raids. Brigadier Cyril Lyon (Resident Counsellor and the Fortress Commander) had decided in December to evacuate all European women and children, together with the sick and wounded from the Military Hospital. These had been transferred to the mainland by the night of 13 December.
Subsequently, all military and food stores, and as many of the population who wished to, had been shipped south on the many boats and junks that were in the harbour. The gunboats HMS Dragonfly and Scorpion had been involved, with other small craft to offer some protection to the boats as they hugged the coast.
As the terminus of ocean cables connecting Malaya with India and Ceylon, it had an important strategic role in addition to its other facilities. The Royal Engineers had been asked to send a detachment onto the island to make sure that anything that may have been of use to the enemy would be completely destroyed, and unfortunately that included the cable office and infrastructure. This had been delayed as long as possible, but once 11th Division’s position on the River Muda had been lost, the explosives were detonated and the engineers were taken off in RN boats.
The men of 3rd Battalion SSVF had been given a choice whether to stay on the island if that was where their family was, or keep fighting by joining the other battalions on Singapore Island. The fact that their families had mostly chosen to flee the island for Singapore meant that when the Royal Engineers withdrew, so did the 3rd Battalion SSVF. That meant that when the Japanese troops arrived on the island, they found it mostly deserted and destroyed.
The arrival in Singapore of many more refugees from places like Penang had caused something of a ruckus among the Civilian Administration. Not only did they constitute ‘more mouths to feed’, they were also predominately of Chinese and Indian origin. While the Europeans were welcomed and made comfortable, there were complaints, especially among the soldiers of the SSVF of the way their families were being treated. It wasn’t clear yet to the civilian administration whether they had to prepare for a Malta type experience of being besieged, or if the refugees would be able to go home once the Japanese had been thrown back.
For General Auchinleck, when he was eventually informed of this, had a brief call with Sir Shenton Thomas, the Governor, encouraging him to not undermine the fighting spirit of the Volunteer Forces. There were two Battalions of the Malay Regiment and four each of the SSVF and Federated Malay States Volunteer Forces. Those ten Battalions were playing an important part in the overall defence of Malaya and Singapore. Many in the Chinese community still had strong ties to families who had been fighting the Japanese in China since 1936. To alienate them, and all the other natives, was unhelpful at best and dangerous at worst.
allanpcameron
Donor
For those asking for a map, this includes a few more days than we've got to so far:
The dates refer to the dates on the updates here, usually the battles lasted more than a day.
The dates refer to the dates on the updates here, usually the battles lasted more than a day.
So at present it appears that the 11th and 9th Indian Division are carrying the battle
There is both the 8th AIF and 18th British divisions - both with 3 Brigades effectively in reserve?
And there are additional Tank units as well - M3 Stuart equipped ones?
There is both the 8th AIF and 18th British divisions - both with 3 Brigades effectively in reserve?
And there are additional Tank units as well - M3 Stuart equipped ones?
So Mackay Corp is 2 Australian divisions each with a cav reg of M3 and others. 18th with the 7th Bn RTR. Extra Bn with spare tanks with eta of end Jan. So a strong force for the counter attack, with the additional in Burma with at least a tank Bn.
So 5 Divisions plus 5 Tank regiments (3 Matilda and 2 Stuart tank regiments) plus other local units making a bigger impact here
The Japanese by this point in time would be running short on munitions, heavy weapons and Infantry units. Most units that have had contact have been roughly handled and this is clear from the delayed advance. I could see an Offensive against the Japanese once they mass for an assault causing a major problem.,
Ramp-Rat
Monthly Donor
So the Japanese who IOTL were closing on Singapore, which was to fall in just under 30 days, are presently between 250 and 300 miles away. They have had to divert significant forces away from other areas, which is having a major effect on the campaign, to try and achieve their ends in the Malayan Peninsula. The resultant effect is seriously derailing their offensive, and I would expect that by now their supply situation is getting tenuous, while they might be able to confiscate from the locals sufficient food for their own needs just. When it comes to military supplies especially artillery ammunition, they will be coming close to running out, which they did IOTL by the time they were besieging Singapore. Unlike the British who are retiring to prepared positions, remember the British do not retreat they retire, unless it’s a glorious retreat such as Mons, Dunkirk or Lisbon. The Japanese are constantly battling against an organised opposition, and are at the end of a very rickety supply line. Whereas the British forces, have at their back one of the worlds greatest natural harbours and a major imperial supply base, plus better access to motorised vehicles and virtually unlimited supplies of petrol. So far the Japanese have mostly come up against troops that hadn’t seen extensive action in other areas, but once the British forces presently engaged, retire through the fresh devisions, to rest and recover, the Japanese who are worn down by their efforts to date. Are going to find themselves in a world of pain, as these battle hardened, fresh and well equipped in comparison to the Japanese, British/Empire devisions take up the strain of combating the Japanese. The window of opportunity for the Japanese in Malaya is slowly closing, and as it closes so too does the opportunity to take Burma and the majority of the DEI. while I have very little doubt that the Japanese will occupy the Philippines and much of the Central Pacific, without the resources of the British and Dutch colonies, they will shortly be running out of oil and much else they need to prosecute their war.
RR.
RR.
If I was the British, I would continue to slowly fall back, make the Japanese burn their supplies, while building up shell stockpiles that would make Montgomery blush, and then counter-attack in late February.
RAF Malaya's reinforcements will also soon be ready for action, with even more on the way.
Look More Closely Later
Gone Fishin'
As a yardstick, for comparison, can anyone remember (or check in a copy that they purchased) how far forward the Imperial Japanese got in Malaya in Astrodragon's The Whale has Wings timeline?
Hurricanes and their carrier variant should be comparable maybe a bit better depending on which IJA and IJN aircraft they are engaging, it also doesn’t help that the Imperial Japanese air crew losses can’t be replaced effectively