Against the Tide Imperial: The Struggle for Ceylon (The Usurper's War: An Alternative World War II B by James Young (story reading txt) 📕

battleships Kirishima and Hiei leading both carrier columns. As smoke poured from both battleships’ funnels, Yamaguchi reflected on the fact their sister ship Kongo lay on the ocean floor a few hundred miles to the southeast, while the Haruna was still being repaired in Singapore’s drydock.

I hope the Germans are right, and the Americans’ Pacific Fleet cannot sortie for another month due to a lack of oilers. Otherwise, Admiral Yamamoto is going to be most upset. Although the Shinano had just finished working up and could ostensibly sail forth with the rest of the battleline, the Kirishima and Hiei represented over twenty percent of the IJN’s available battleships.

I told Admiral Yamamoto that I intend to bring the Allied carriers to battle even if I have to chase them across the Indian Ocean to do it, Yamaguchi thought. If the Americans attempt to retake Wake or, even worse, launch an attack against the Marshalls, we might as well be on the other side of the moon.

Shaking his head to force those concerns from his mind, Vice Admiral Yamaguchi turned to go back inside the Akagi’s island. The newly promoted Rear Admiral Tomeo Kaku, former captain of the Hiryu, called the gathered group to attention. Yamaguchi waved them down as he regarded the large map of the Indian Ocean. Wooden pieces represented the Kido Butai, the yet to depart transport fleet, Vice Admiral Ozawa’s carrier force and, finally, known Allied and Axis dispositions.

The Italians have surprisingly moved south with three of their battleships and two of the British escort carriers, he noted. They may serve a useful purpose of exhausting the enemy if well handled.

“Who is in command of that force?” he asked, pointing at the vessels as he sat down at the head of the map.

Rear Admiral Kaku briefly consulted his notes.

“An Italian admiral named Iachino, sir,” Kaku replied.

I do not recognize the name, Yamaguchi thought.

“It would be most helpful if we could coordinate our efforts with him,” Yamaguchi stated.

“It is unlikely he will leave the radius of land-based air support,” Rear Admiral Kaku observed after once again consulting his notes. “Especially versus a superior enemy force.”

“That would be prudent, given what the Germans accomplished against the Americans during their engagement,” Rear Admiral Chuichi Hara, commander of the Kido Butai’s Fifth Division, stated. A large man, Hara dominated his corner of the map opposite of Yamaguchi with both his physical presence and almost palpable mental resolve.

“Unfortunately, hiding underneath an umbrella of land-based airpower does us no good,” Yamaguchi said. “Remove his vessels, please.”

Several staff officers complied with Yamaguchi’s directive as he and his division commanders continued to regard the Allied force on the mapboard.

“So, what do we expect Fletcher to do next?” he asked the gathered group.

“Sir, intelligence believes that Fletcher should have struck Mombasa by now,” Kaku replied. “It has not happened as far as we know.”

“Perhaps events in New York have caused a pause in operations?” Hara mused.

“Unlikely,” Kaku stated.

“Also unimportant,” Yamaguchi stated, waving as if brushing away a fly. “First let us discuss Ceylon.”

The staff attendants shifted around the map to be better prepared to move the wooden blocks representing the Kido Butai. As they did so, Yamaguchi regarded the ten miniature aircraft blocks present on Ceylon. Carved to represent the types that intelligence believed were present, Yamaguchi noted a pair of four-engined, another duo of twin-engined, a single flying boat, and three single-engined miniatures.

“The enemy has recently reinforced Ceylon with additional aircraft via convoy,” Kaku began. “As you can see, there are an expected eight squadrons totaling roughly one hundred aircraft.”

The officer moved the three single-engined aircraft to the east of Ceylon.

“Our intelligence indicates these are two squadrons of Hurricanes, one of Spitfires,” Kaku stated. “The Hurricanes are recent models, but still inferior to both the Shiden and Zero fighters. The Spitfires may be able to match either.”

Several of the gathered aviators stiffened at that, but Kaku ignored them. There were far too many dead pilots and shattered aircraft dotting the Dutch East Indies to merit stroking proud men’s egos. The Spitfire, as well as the cursed Whirlwind and American Lightning, had all come as an unpleasant surprise during the last campaign.

“The twin-engined aircraft are the type the British call the Mosquito, while the four-engined aircraft are two squadrons of their heavy bombers they call the Lancaster.”

Kaku paused again as the staff officers moved the Lancasters several hundred miles out into the Indian Ocean, then the Mosquitoes a lesser distance.

“From captured documents, interrogation, and examination of enemy capabilities, we believe this is how far these aircraft can reach out into the Indian Ocean,” Kaku stated. “Thankfully, they cannot operate in daylight against us, and will likely be ineffective at night.”

Yamaguchi looked up at that, eyes narrowing.

“Based on what?” he asked sharply, causing Kaku to stare at him, mouth open.

“I do not understand, Vice–”

“The British nearly sank one of Ozawa’s vessels and consistently harassed our ships during night operations throughout the Indies,” Yamaguchi snapped. “They also managed to hit Ozawa’s fleet at night during the Battle of Ceylon. So why do you think they cannot strike us at night?”

The steady thrum of Akagi’s turbines was the only sound in the compartment for several long seconds.

Time to make my point clear, Yamaguchi thought, feeling rage welling from within him.

“We will not win this war by ignoring our enemies’ capabilities and inconvenient facts,” he barked, standing up. “You will prepare another briefing in the next hour which actually reflects what we have learned the last three months. If you are too stupid to do so, I will have you relieved and sent to a post more befitting someone of your lack of imagination. Am I clear?”

Kaku had come to rigid attention. The man’s face colored as the Kido Butai’s commander finished, his dark eyes focused on the bulkhead in front of him.

“Yes, Vice Admiral!” he responded.

“Rear Admiral Hara, a word please,” Yamaguchi said, striding for the exit out of the briefing room and onto the flight deck. There was the