Rangoon surrounded! Japanese counter-attack at Hanoi!

ACTION SUMMARY: The Japanese increased the pressure today in Burma by advancing a detachment in brigade strength northwest of Rangoon from their main force at Moulmein. Effectively cutting off the 2nd Burma Brigade at Rangoon, Operation Fullback is preparing for the evacuation of the surrounded British forces there. This development was anticipated as a full evacuation of Rangoon would have left no British force on Japan's open flank as they continued their advance against Mandalay and the Burma Road. Even so, once Rangoon is evacuated, the Fullback buildup on Andaman Island will continue to provide the lurking threat to Japanese designs in Burma.

Elsewhere, the Japanese opened their counter-attack against the Chinese 23rd Group Army dug in outside of Hanoi. There, the 50th and 21st Chinese Corps began to withdraw their positions to cross back into China before they are cutoff by Japanese reinforcements marching from Siam. Blenheim bombers based at Mandalay are now flying in direct support of the 23rd Group Army's withdrawal from French Indochina, striking Japanese infantry positions across their front with nominal results.



Meanwhile, Kates from Jolo attacked the Dutch destroyer DeWitt on submarine patrol just north of Celebes. Thankfully, she avoided the torpedoes and fled back to harbor. It is amazing what a small airfield with a small contingent of aircraft can accomplish in restricted seas. No greater thorn rests in my side than the handful of Japanese Zeroes and Kates based at Jolo, because they completely prevent the joining of ADBA assets with those of the U.S. Asiatic command in the Phillipines. Any vessel venturing close to Jolo is subject to attack. I can only hope Andaman Island can pay off the same dividends, though the British have no torpedo bomber that compares to the Kate... not to mention Japanese "Long Lance" torpedoes are the best in the world.

Meanwhile, the heavily damaged H.M.S. Thracian, one of the few refugees from Hong Kong, sank today off Singapore. Having fled the Phillipines a week before, the destroyer succumbed to her flooding bulkheads after an airstrike five days ago from
Japanese bombers flying from Camh Ranh Bay.

In the Phillipines, the 71st Phillipino Division has been cut off from the Bataan Redoubt. Having made the long march from northern Luzon where she was nearly surrounded by Japanese beachheads, her week-long arduous trek across the central mountains ended in the face of a Japanese attack across her front near Clark Airfield. Some 6,000 Phillipino soldiers instead fled towards the shelter of Manila and the Cavite forts where the 51st Phillipino Division is entrenching.

Two major air raids by Japanese bombers of 30-50 planes each carpet bombed the jungles of Bataan again. Few were damaged by flak this time around. Casualties were thankfully few.

Elsewhere, the 34th Engineer Aviation Battallion began disembarking at Canton Island. This begins the true ground buildup that is part of Operation Congo.

No warroom today.