Don't forget the sizable RN forces at Malaya though. Talking of which here is the Malayan section.
I should of said before, this report is top secret so its only for OOC info.
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Malaya
Malaya is a collective of states is made up of the Federated Malay States (Perak, Selangor, Negri Sembilan and Pahang), the Unfederated Malay States (Kedah, Perlis, Kelantan and Trengganu) and the Straits Settlements (Penang Island, Malacca and Singapore). The Straits Settlement of Malacca has been a colony since 1825. The population is around 5 million of whom only 2.3 million are Malays, the rest are composed of 2.4 million Chinese and 100,000 other nationalities including the British. Most Chinese live in the towns of the Federated Malay States and Straits Settlements while the majority of the Malays are engaged in agriculture in the Unfederated States. Malaya is a valuable asset for the British Empire producing 38% of the world’s rubber and 58% of the world’s tin. Malaya has little direct overland threat except via Thailand in the north. Malaya’s main threat comes from amphibious invasion and to meet these threats the two main north-south roads and the coastal towns have been heavily fortified. Malaya, especially Singapore, is the main powerbase of the Eastern Empire. From here power can be projected via sea against the Satsuma powers of China and Japan in the event of war. The RAF wishes to form a powerful heavy bomber force in Malaya, partly as a method of projecting power and partly as a means to overcome the large distances in the region. Northern and central Malaya are mountainous which also aids defence. The coastal plains are vulnerable to landings however. Also, in terms of internal security the large population of Chinese places questions on the existence of a subversive underground movement and espionage network that in wartime could not be ignored.
British Army: Malaya falls under the jurisdiction of Far East HQ Singapore under the command of General H. Alexander.
Units in Malaya comprise; the 18th Infantry Division; 1st Malayan Brigade; 2nd Malayan Brigade; 27th Armoured Brigade; Malayan Artillery Brigade; Hong Kong and Singapore Royal Artillery,; the Federated Malay States Volunteer Force and the Straits Settlements Volunteer Force.
The 27th Armoured Brigade is equipped mainly with Cruiser Tank Mk IV tanks. The Malayan Brigades are largely composed of indigenous manpower but some British units are used as a stiffener. Roughly two-thirds of the Hong Kong and Singapore Royal Artillery are based in Malaya and this unit is of brigade strength and comprises in Malaya four regiments, organised identically to a standard Royal Regiment of Artillery. They have a mix of 25pdr and 4.5in guns. The Federated Malay States Volunteer Force and the Straits Settlements Volunteer Force are largely composed of indigenous manpower and form a reserve force to man defensive positions and conduct military police operations in wartime. The SSVF numbers four battalions and contains a company of Crossley armoured cars. The 18th Division, both Malayan Brigades, the 27th Armoured Brigade and the Malayan Artillery Brigade are part of XI Corps. The local territorial units and the Hong Kong and Singapore Royal Artillery are part of XII Corps. In wartime the forces in Malaya would form the Fourteenth Army. There are around 150 18pdr guns in the artillery park as a reserve to be issued to units in Burma and Malaya in wartime.
The Royal Marines have MNDBO III (Marine Naval Defence Base Organisation) stationed at Singapore which supplies units for overseas harbour defences and has 2 Regiments and 12 Artillery Regiments. MNBDO III supplies units for other Far Eastern harbour defences as well.
Fortifications in Malaya comprise:
Island of Penang (plus town of Georgetown); One Regiment of Field Artillery with three eight-gun batteries of 25pdr field guns with thirty-seven concrete and earth firing positions covering all four coasts. Three concrete fire-control director towers with 10 foot rangefinders, one communications bunker, six MG bunkers with two MG each and ten pillboxes. One airstrip near Georgetown is protected by three small bunkers each with one LMG. A battery of 3.7in AA guns has been added to the area.
Port Weld; One light AA battery with Cannon 20mm Mark I and one mobile battery of 25pdr field guns with twenty pre-prepared firing positions. One fortified MTB bunker with four pens for sixteen MTBs with several Vickers .661in HMG on the roof for AA protection.
Kelang and Pelabohan Kelang; One Regiment of Field Artillery with three eight-gun batteries of 25pdr field guns with forty concrete and earth firing positions. One concrete fire-control director tower with 10 foot rangefinder, one communications bunker, ten MG bunkers with two MG each. A battery of 3.7in AA guns has been added to the area.
Port Dickson; One fortified MTB bunker, one battery of 18pdr guns in fixed concrete bunkers, the small harbour and mole is protected by three 12pdr QF guns and two small bunkers with one LMG each.
Malacca; One fortified MTB bunker, one battery of 18pdr guns in fixed concrete bunkers, the small harbour and mole protected is by three 12pdr QF guns and the local airfield is protected by two small bunkers with one LMG each. A battery of 3.7in AA guns has been added to the area as have ten bunkers each with two Vickers MGs.
Muar; Two fortified MTB bunkers, two batteries of 18pdr guns in fixed concrete bunkers and mobile revetments. The harbour and mole are protected by two 12pdr QF guns and four small bunkers with one LMG each. The seaplane base is protected by three fortified buildings for two.
Batu Pahat; Two fortified MTB bunkers, one Regiment of Field Artillery with three eight-gun batteries of 25pdr field guns with forty concrete and earth firing positions. The harbour is protected by five 12pdr QF guns in casemates and ten MG bunkers with two MG each. One small seaplane base is protected by two fortified buildings for two LMG and three small bunkers with one LMG each. Two communications bunkers also in this area are linked by tunnels to four large bunkers (4 Vickers .661in HMG in casemates and cloches). The latter form part of the Outer Singapore Line.
Outer Singapore Line (Excluding the forts mentioned at Batu Pahat); six fortified sluice gates for flooding several low-ling areas inland from the marshes around Batu Pahat covered by seven small bunkers with one LMG each. Several strongpoints inland consist of six large bunkers (4 Vickers .661in HMG in casemates and cloches) linked by tunnels to ten MG bunkers with two Vickers MG each and six 6pdr AT-gun bunkers with an additional Vickers .661in HMG with moats around the bigger forts. Eight 18pdr guns mounted in individual bunkers with two MG each (mounted in cloches) also form part of the western network. Around Keluang inland (roughly the centre of the line) are seven large bunkers (4 Vickers .661in HMG in casemates and cloches) linked by tunnels to sixteen MG bunkers with two MG each and one communications bunker. Eight 18pdr guns are mounted in individual bunkers with two MG each (mounted in cloches) and another mobile battery of 25pdrs has the use of forty pre-prepared firing positions. The eastern section covers the main southern west-east road and consists of eighteen light MG bunkers, ten 6pdr AT-gun bunkers and six 3.7in QF guns mounted in larger bunkers for support. Each of the AT and QF bunkers has an MG. At the eastern coast there is an extensive moat and flooding system with two large bunkers (4 Vickers .661in HMG in casemates and cloches) linked by tunnels to eleven MG bunkers with two MG each and one communications bunker. An underground hospital is also located here as are a battery of casemated 6in guns for coastal defence.
Singapore; Extensive coastal fortifications have been upgraded with four 16.5/45 twin turrets and ten new 6in casemates (in five new large bunkers which also mount six 0.661in HMGs in casemates and cloches). The 16.5in turrets each have a 600 shell magazine and diesel generators and crew accommodations. Two rangefinder towers each mount a 15 foot rangefinder in an armoured turret. Three MTB bunkers are located at the Naval Dockyards. Three mobile 25pdr batteries cover the landward approaches and a line of sixteen light MG bunkers are further inland along with sixteen 6pdr AT-gun bunkers each with two MGs. Three batteries of 3.7in AA guns have been added to the area. Two large two-level bunkers for the Navy and Army HQs are near the city as are three casernes each holding 120 men and two underground hospitals. Work has begun on a new two-level underground communications bunker.
Mersing, Pekan, Kuantan, Kuala Dungun, Kuala Trengganu and Kota Bharu; These eastern coast towns are standardised with one fortified MTB bunker, two batteries of 25pdr guns and two batteries of 4.5in guns with around twenty-six pre-prepared revetments each. The harbours are protected by four 12pdr QF guns and eight small bunkers with one LMG each. Kuantan and Kuala Trengganu each have small seaplane base protected by three small bunkers with one LMG each and four 20mm Mark I cannon. Each town straddles the main eastern north-south road and so inland anti-tank ditches are covered by six MG bunkers with two MG each, three 3.7in QF bunkers and six 6pdr AT-gun bunkers at each town. All are linked by tunnels and each town has one large bunker (6 Vickers .661in HMG in casemates and cloches) overlooking the road which have extensive communications equipment and a hospital. Kota Bharu has three such bunkers along the border with eleven smaller twin MG bunkers linked to them by underground tunnels and five further bunkers each with two 6pdr AT-guns and two HMGs. Pekan has extensive moats and floodable areas inland for all-round protection.
Kangar, Alor Setar, Butterworth, Taiping, Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur and Seremban; All these towns are along the main western north-south road and feature some field works to impede any enemy advance along this road. Each town has anti-tank ditches to either side of the road and covered by six MG bunkers two MG each, three 3.7in QF bunkers and six 6pdr AT-gun bunkers at each town. All are linked by tunnels to each other and one large bunker (6 Vickers .661in HMG in casemates and cloches) which have extensive communications equipment and a hospital. A line of seven small MG bunkers, two further large bunkers and six 6pdr AT-gun bunkers cover both flanks for protection. Alor Setar has another line of eight small and two large bunkers behind the town for additional protection. The village of Kangar on the border has three bunkers each with one 3.7in QF in a casemate and two Vickers in a cloche. The important aerodrome at Butterworth is protected on all sides by seven MG bunkers with two MGs each, ten pillboxes and a battery of mobile 25pdr guns. Recently eighteen 3.7in and twenty-four 20mm Mark I cannon have been added in concrete positions with two director towers mounting a destroyer-type DCT. Batteries of eight 18pdr guns in casemates are restricted to Butterworth and Kuala Lumpur. Kuala Lumpur is also protected by a larger fort with six 4.5in guns in turrets and four 6pdr anti-tank guns in casemates with nine .661in Vickers HMGs.
Royal Air Force: Malaya falls under the jurisdiction of the Far East Air Force under the command of Air Marshall J. Babington. All forces within Malaya are under the operational control of No 71 Group, HQ Butterworth, under the command of Air Commodore G. B. Dacre.
Units in Malaya comprise;
267 (Malta) Sqn, Kallang, Bristol Bermuda
67 Sqn, Kallang, Hawker Hurricane III
119 Sqn, Kallang, (forming with DH Hornet FB.Mk.I)
271 Sqn, Kallang, Bristol Bermuda
1303 Flt (Meteorology THUM), Kallang, Hawker Hurricane II
Singapore Operational Training Flight, Kallang, Miles Master I and Airspeed Oxford I and Hawker Hurricane III
33 Sqn, Kota Bharu, Hawker Tornado F.Mk.I
11 Sqn, Kota Bharu, Fairey Balmoral B.Mk.I
36 Sqn, Kota Bharu, Fairey Balmoral B.Mk.I
219 Sqn, Seletar, Short Sunderland I & II
230 Sqn, Seletar, Short Sunderland II & GR.Mk.IV
279 Fleet Requirements Sqn, Seletar, Vickers-Supermarine Sea Otter
AHQ Far East Communication Flight, Seletar, Percival P.28 Proctor I and Airspeed AS.7 Consul
Straits Settlements Volunteer Air Force, Seletar, DH Tiger Moth
112 Sqn, Kuala Lumpur, Hawker Hurricane II & III (converting to Martin-Baker M.B.5 F.Mk.I)
154 Sqn, Kuala Lumpur, Supermarine Spitfire F.Mk.III
2 Sqn, Kuala Lumpur, Westland Lysander I
15 GCF, Kuala Lumpur, Percival P.28 Proctor I
60 Sqn, Tengah , Fairey Balmoral B.Mk.I
166 Sqn, Tengah, Vickers Wellington III
1458 Flight (Radio Calibration), Tengah, D.H. Tiger Moth and Bristol Blenheim
1301 Flt (Meteorology), Tengah, Vickers Wellesley and Hawker Hurricane I
Far East Air Force Examining Squadron, Tengah, Miles Magister and DH Tiger Moth
Far East Air Force Training Squadron, Tengah, Miles Magister and DH Tiger Moth
Malayan Volunteer Air Force, Tengah, DH Tiger Moth and DH Dragon Rapide
101 Sqn, Butterworth, Vickers Wellington B.Mk.IV
100 Sqn, Butterworth, Bristol Beaufort GR.Mk.I & III
223 Sqn, Butterworth, Vickers Wellington GR.Mk.VI
Total RAF fighter strength is around 72 aircraft in 4 squadrons with 1 long-range fighter-bomber squadron forming. The offensive bomber force numbers 30 medium bombers in 2 squadrons. Army co-operation comprises around 54 light bombers in 3 squadrons and one squadron and one flight of Lysanders. Naval co-operation forces comprise two long-range flying boat squadrons, a medium-range flying boat squadron, one long-range land-based and one medium-range land-based squadron totalling roughly 66 aircraft. It is the long-term intention to form a long-range bomber group within No 71 Group by 1945. The Malayan Volunteer Air Force and the Straits Settlements Volunteer Air Force are local units of mainly white-settler personnel rather like the Aux Air Force units in Britain. Its role is mainly training and transport and in wartime its pilots would be called up as an operational reserve. The FAA units listed also contribute to fighter defence and naval strike. The Chinese would be likely use their Airborne Division against targets in Northern Malaya but unless they have long-range transports and glider tugs in numbers then the danger is not very great. Gliders would be unsuitable for most landing zones in Malaya and would be vulnerable to RAF defences. Such a tactic would be to either key positions or as a feint.
Air Defences: Each airfield has one Chain Home Type 2 (AMES Type 2) and one Chain Home Low Type 2 (AMES Type 5) radio-location set for early warning. Alor Setar and Kota Baharu both have one AMES Type 2 and one AMES Type 5 to form a basic defensive early-warning coverage along the Siamese border. Singapore is protected by two AMES Type 2 and three AMES Type 5 giving all-round coverage. There is one sector operations room to disseminate the data and organise defence for the city. AA defences comprise one HAA and one LAA battery at each airfield and the total number of 3.7in AA guns around Singapore total about 48 guns with 12 searchlights. Other AA defences are listed under fortifications above. Across Malaya there are around 100 observation posts, many of which are manned only by volunteers in wartime and during defence exercises. There are around 100 3in AA guns in the artillery park as a reserve to be issued to units in Burma and Malaya in wartime. By 1944 it is hoped to equip each fighter airfield with G.C.I Type 1 (AMES Type 6 or 7) sets and Gun Laying Mk II sets for the all HAA batteries and to equip all major coastal towns on both shores with mobile AMES Type 9 and AMES Type 5* to form a complete coverage around Malaya by the end of 1945.
Royal Navy: Malaya falls under the jurisdiction of China Station and Far Eastern Fleet under the command of Admiral Sir Bertram Ramsay.
Units in Malaya comprise:
At Singapore;
Far Eastern Battle Squadron (Inflexible, Invincible) [battlecruisers]
3rd Carrier Squadron (Warrior, Eagle, Unicorn) [two fleet carriers and one tender/ light carrier]
2nd Heavy Cruiser Squadron (4 Howe Class)
18th Light Cruiser Squadron (6 H Class) [AA cruisers]
22nd Light Cruiser Squadron (5 Scylla Class)
25th Light Cruiser Squadron (4 Cathedral Class) [scout cruisers]
13th Destroyer Flotilla (8 B Class)
25th Destroyer Flotilla (8 H Class)
28th Destroyer Flotilla (8 L Class)
2nd Torpedo Escort Flotilla (8 700 Ton Colonial Torpedo Boat Class)
10th Submarine Flotilla (5 P Class)
13th Submarine Flotilla (5 U Class)
15th Submarine Flotilla (5 V Class)
4th Gunboat Squadron (6 Fly Class)
8th Sloop Flotilla (4 Mountain Class)
3rd Minesweeper Flotilla (8 Poole Class)
1st Torpedo Boat Flotilla (8 BPB-60-1 Class)
2nd Torpedo Boat Flotilla (8 BPB-60-1 Class)
3rd Torpedo Boat Flotilla (8 BPB-60-1 Class)
4th Torpedo Boat Flotilla (8 BPB-60-1 Class)
15th Torpedo Boat Flotilla (8 BPB-60-3 Class)
Note: these MTB units are based in fortified MTB pens at Moulmein (Burma), Port Weld, Port Dickson, Malacca, Muar, Batu Pahat, Mersing, Pekan, Kuantan, Kuala Dungun, Kuala Trengganu and Kota Bharu (all Malaya)
4th Landing Craft Flotilla (8 LCI 1)
5th Landing Craft Flotilla (8 LCV 1)
13th Landing Craft Flotilla (8 LCA)
16th Landing Craft Flotilla (8 LCV 3)
At Penang;
24th Light Cruiser Squadron (5 Scylla Class)
15th Destroyer Flotilla (8 E Class)
4th Sloop Flotilla (4 Mountain Class)
5th Torpedo Escort Flotilla (8 Defiant Class)
6th Gunboat Squadron (3 500 ton Colonial Gunboat Class)
RFA units supporting the fleet comprise a destroyer tender, a submarine tender, a static repair ship, four tankers, a petrol tanker, two survey ships, a troopship, two tugs and a salvage tug.
The Far Eastern Fleet is considered to be the second most important fleet in the Navy and has been designed to counter the potential threats from Bharat, China and Japan. It is an optimum blocking force which can defend Malaya and project some power. The aim in wartime is to reinforce this fleet by units of the Mediterranean and Home Fleets. The recent brief war between China and the Philippines proved to be a good exercise to test the reinforcement procedures and several small problems were ironed out. Generally within 14 days the fleet can be brought up to full strength with reinforcements. The fleet comprises the bulk of the latest and most modern vessels in the Royal Navy and further aircraft carriers and capital ships are planned for the region by the end of the 1940s. The forces are Penang are designed to operate off British Borneo and Sarawak and also as reinforcements to protect the Burmese coast. The sizable MTB force is designed to block the Straits and patrol the coastlines. The bunkers should provide safe bases from which to operate and at the moment offer excess capacity. The submarine force are all coastal types, originally due to the provisions of ABUSE but such a force provides ample striking power off the Chinese and western Indian coasts. A small amphibious force has been started with light landing craft for shore operations and transport along the coasts but it is hoped to augment this larger vessels within the foreseeable future.
Fleet Air Arm: All FAA units attached to the Far Eastern Fleet are under the operational control of No 52 Group, HQ Sembawang, under the command of Rear Admiral C. Moody. The FAA airfields are Sembawang, Changi and Seletar (jointly with the RAF).
HMS Eagle Air Wing: 801 Sqn, Fairey Firefly FN.Mk.I, 803 Sqn, Fairey Firefly FN.Mk.I, 817 Sqn, Fairey Firefly FN.Mk.II, 829 Sqn, Fairey Barracuda TBR.Mk.II, 830 Sqn, Gloster Skipper FSN.Mk.II, 831 Sqn, Gloster Skipper FSN.Mk.II
HMS Warrior Air Wing: 814 Sqn, Gloster Gannet, 815 Sqn, Gloster Gannet, 826 Sqn, Fairey Barracuda TBR.Mk.II, 827 Sqn, Fairey Barracuda TBR.Mk.II, 828 Sqn, Fairey Barracuda TBR.Mk.II
808 Sqn, Sembawang (forming with Gloster Gannet)
819 Sqn, Sembawang (forming with Gloster Gannet)
837 Sqn, Sembawang (forming with Fairey Barracuda AS.Mk.III)
838 Sqn, Sembawang (forming with Fairey Barracuda TBR.Mk.II)
839 Sqn, Sembawang (forming with Fairey Barracuda TBR.Mk.II)
840 Sqn, Sembawang (forming with Fairey Barracuda AS.Mk.III)
841 Sqn, Sembawang (forming with Fairey Barracuda TBR.Mk.II)
842 Sqn, Sembawang (forming with Fairey Barracuda TBR.Mk.II)
896 Sqn, Seletar, Fairey Swordfish (ship-based aircraft aboard capital ships and cruisers)
757 Sqn (No.2 Instrument Training Flight), Sembawang, Fairey Swordfish and Fairey Barracuda
1305 Flt (Meteorology), Sembawang, Fairey Swordfish and Gloster Sea Gladiator
1700 Flt (Air Sea Rescue), Sembawang, Fairey Swordfish
Sembawang CCF, Sembawang, Percival Proctor I and DH Tiger Moth and Fairey Swordfish
No.3 NTTU (Naval Target Towing Unit), Changi, Fairey Swordfish and Miles Queen Martinet
No.2 TTU (Torpedo Training Unit), Changi, Fairey Swordfish
Coastal defences: see fortifications list above.