Japan was unchanging. But the world was changed beyond recognition.
It was around 23:40 on March 9, Reiwa Year X. A massive communications failure struck Japan, cutting off all communication with the rest of the world. While everyone was plunged int...
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I have prepared a map of Saipan Island at the time of the landing operation. I hope you will find it useful.
- Kujaku Aoi
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Saipan Island: over Kobler Field
March 18, before dawn. Captain Kubota had once again arrived in the Mariana Islands. He is to use laser-guided Mk. 82 bombs to completely destroy the airbase and make it impossible for any small aircraft to take off. Then, as much as possible, his unit would hit field artillery, which was a threat to ground troops, and anti-aircraft artillery pieces, which could shoot down helicopters. Judging from the takeoffs of the enemy interceptors, there seemed to be a lot of them on the airfield. The pamphlets were probably ineffective.
"Alright... drop!"
The bombs left from under the wings of the F-2A and flew to their designated targets. On the runway, a group of P-47 Thunderbolts was about to take off, all four of them, when the explosion occurred right in the middle of them. It was a sight not much different from a plastic model blown up by firecrackers.
Then, later in the day, an anti-aircraft barrage was started, but they could not track the F-2As at all, and just threw up a barrage of fire in the direction of the day after tomorrow. Moreover, the interceptors, which barely managed to take off but had to turn to the right or left, were hit by friendly fire.
"Dragoon 2, finished dropping."
"Dragoon 3, finished dropping."
"Dragoon 4, finished dropping."
Reports came in one after another from other planes. Kubota looked at the island while regrouping over the western part of Saipan. Black smoke was rising from everywhere, and the island was dimly lit by flames. The same was true of Tinian Island, separated by a strait a little over five kilometers wide. If the sniper sighting devices were to be believed, all the targets assigned to the platoon had been destroyed.
"Standby until further orders," Kubota ordered.
If, for example, American planes flew in from Peleliu or Biak, they were to shoot them down. However, the chances of that happening were not high, since the C-2EB was actively sending out false signals posing as American forces of this era, spreading confusion.
"Man, it's like a pleasure flight," Kubota muttered to himself and looked at Saipan. The landing was about to begin.
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Saipan Island: Cowtown Beach
What had been only a rocking motion caused by the waves suddenly began to rattle and shake. First Lieutenant Mizukami instantly understood that the vehicle had hit the reef. It meant that the time for landing was near. The convoy of Type 23 amphibious vehicles that had left the landing ship Kunisaki was about to safely reach the northern coast of Saipan after a voyage of about an hour. Of course, there was no enemy fire. It seemed that those who had infiltrated the area in advance were guiding them with infrared lights.
