Ten thousand troops surrender at Rangoon! Japanese land at Rabaul!

ACTION SUMMARY: Nearly 10,000 British and Commonwealth soldiers surrendered at Rangoon today in a humiliating ceremony at the Government House. The defenders of Rangoon were immediately marched into the jungle to work on the railways. This is a critical moment for the Burma campaign as British forces continue to march slowly to Akyab and British forces at Mandalay continue to dig in. Andaman Island now comes under threat from Japanese aircraft soon to be based at Rangoon. The British Imperial General Staff is rushing new orders of Hurricane fighters to the front to deal with the new threat. The threat of the 80,000+ soldiers at Singapore being completely cut off from the rest of the Commonwealth is growing more near.

In Rabaul, the Empire of Japan broadened its offensive by landing at the Admiraly Islands and Kavieng near New Britain. A handful of Japanese Naval Landing forces landed at the outskirts of Rabaul supported by the Kido Butai's air contingent, which was spotted off New Britain at dawn still looming NE of Rabaul. More infantry is expected to follow on at Rabaul where capitulation is certain.



The Allied command continues to rapidly adjust forces by concentrating remaining surface units off New Zealand for Operation Bogus, including two heavy cruisers, two light cruisers and a handful of destroyers. Bogus has already suffered immensely by the loss of two light cruisers at Rabaul. The operation continues to be hampered by the slow mobilization of Australian and New Zealand ground units. Meanwhile, Congo surface units continue to shift to Pago Pago to allow for the parallel movement of action groups in case the Japanese continue to advance towards the Southern Pacific lifeline.

The Luchenbach sank today, destroying all 20 Wildcat fighters aboard. ASW units are scowering the area searching for Jap subs. The U.S. Pacific command has also deployed six squadrons of Catalinas seaplanes abroad to the Aleutians, Midway, Wake Island and Canton Island to improve recon coverage.

No other activity today. No warroom.