Platinean War 1942 – 1945 1942: August 30: At midnight without warning Argentina, at the request of Hitler, attack Brazil, which established close relationships with the Allies, especially the United States and the United Kingdom. Argentina under american blocus because of his good relations with Germany which helped militarist and fascist desire, with German military and technological assistance finally convinced Argentina to attack his Brazilian rival. This is an opportunity to conquer new territory for Argentina and Hitler hoped that the U.S. distracts a part of their war effort to help Brazil. At 9:00 am the 1st Submarines Flotilla on patrol off the coast of Argentina while Brazilian surface ships are attacked by Argentine naval bombers (Consolidated P2Y-3A Ranger). 1 Between 12:00 and 15:00 on 1o Grupo de Caça (1st Fighter Group) (a squadron equipped with Republic P47 Santa) engages Argentinean bombers over Porto Alegre and succeed to push them. Brazil decided to concentrate its limited military resources in battles against Argentina as Peru and Bolivia will have to attack through the difficult terrain of Amazonia where there is no strategic objectives, and at its maximum advanced Peruvian army will never reach Manaus. September 1: Bolivia and Peru announced their alliance with Argentina and start throwing recon in Amazonia. 2 September 2: At 13:00 the beginning of a naval battle between Brazil and Argentina in the waters of Blanca Bay. September 3: At 1:00 pm the Brazilian fleet withdraws and leaves the Argentinean a tactical victory without glory, neither fleet has suffered loss. September 4: The German U-boats arrived in Mar del Plata, aboard: SS military advisors, 1500 tons of arms and ammunition and plans and specimen of arms. September 13: As Hitler had hoped the U.S. sends arms and ammunition in Brazil. Roosevelt secretly prepares the sending of expeditionary forces. September 17: Arrival in Brazil of U.S. Military Advisor. They are responsible for monitoring the training of the Brazilian troops, the establishment of a war industry, establishment of facilities necessary for the war and supervise the various Brazilians battle plans. Brehon Somervell is charge of the logistic operation on the west front; Earle Wheeler is in charge of the south front logistic. Julian Larcombe Schley is in charge of the construction operations (Industries and military facilities), Doyle Overton Hickey supervises the military operations against Argentina and Daniel Isom Sultan is in charge of the operation in west. For political reason the future US Expeditionary Force in Brazil will be placed under Brazilian command, but in the fact the five US General takes all the important strategic decisions. 3 September 19: Between 7:00 pm and 9:00 pm the 1o Grupo de Caça engages Argentinean bombers over Porto Alegre and manages to push again, but its offensive potential begins to get closer to its limits. Argentinean bombers have been able to drop only one single bomb on Porto Alegre. Meanwhile the 1o Cuerpo del Ejercito of the Argentine General Marquez is heading to Porto Alegre, the army corp is composed of the 1a Brigada Blindada « Rodriquez » and 3a Brigada de Infanteria « Pellegrini », 2a Brigada de Infanteria « San Martin » and 1a Brigada de Infanteria « Krausse » accompanied by two detachments of artillery and one engineer detachment. September 21: Via the U.S. Secretary of State Cordell Hull, Ecuador secretly gives military access to Brazil and prepares to receive military aid from the US. Hull promises to support the Ecuadorian territorial claims, especially the territories claimed before the Rio Protocol signed few months ago. September 23: At the dawn of the 3o Cuerpo del Ejercito of General Martinez (1a Brigada de Caballeria and the 13a Brigada de Infanteria backed by an artillery brigade and engineers) attempt a breakthrough towards Curitiba to take a position on the flank of the Brazilian troops defending Porto Alegre and surroundings them. Curitiba is defended by the 1a and 2a Divisao de Infanteria and an artillery brigade under the command of General de Assis. Porto Alegre is defended by the 4o Corpo do Brasil of the General Dennys composed of the 197a Divisao de Tanque and the 8a, 14a and 15a Divisao de Infanteria supported each by artillery brigades. September 26 : Opposed to an heroic defence of the troops of General de Assis, General Martinez’s 3o Cuerpo stop its offensive on Curitiba from 1:00 pm and begins to retreat after suffering heavy losses without great progress: 758 dead and over 2200 injured on the Brazilian side against 1452 killed and 4300 wounded on the Argentinean side. Defenders of Porto Alegre begin a strategic withdrawal because they are running out of supplies; they will fall back inspired by the French example of the summer of 1940 and will pay dearly for every meter of land to Argentina. October 2: The 1o Cuerpo of General Marquez reached Porto Alegre downtown but continues to suffer losses in various ambushes. October 3: In Washington; ambassadors of Paraguay, Ecuador, Chile and Brazil are received by President Roosevelt and Secretaries Stimson and Hull to negotiate an alliance against Argentina, Peru and Bolivia. October 5: Paraguay, Ecuador and Chile declare war on the side of Brazil and will also receive weapons and ammunition from the United States. Brazil gives the U.S. the right to establish a naval base in Recife to deliver aid more effectively and possible military expeditionary forces. At the same time the 12a Divisao de Infanteria of the Brazilian General Leite de Castro attempted an attack against Bolivian positions Perseverancia. Ocotober 6: Shortly before sunrise, the 3o Cuerpo of General Martinez reiterates its attack on Curitiba, Brazilian General de Assis retreated at 11:00 am and launch counterattack at 1:00 pm before retreating again at 5:00 pm. In Porto Alegre 1o Cuerpo of General Marquez continues to be harassed by retardation groups and regularly fall into an ambush. 4 October 7: End of the Battle of Perseverancia with a severe defeat to the Brazilians. The ratio of loss is 1 to 10 in favour of Bolivia either 65 Bolivians dead against 623 Brazilians dead. October 8: The 199a Divisao do Tanque of General Castelo Branca attack the flanks of the Argentinean army attacking Curitiba. October 10: While facing fierce resistance and supply lines are undermined General Marquez decides to stop the offensive of the 1o Cuerpo and fight back. Near Curitiba the 3o Cuerpo of General Martinez fall back facing the 1o Exército and the 199a Divisao do Tanque. This day ends the Battle of Rio Grande. Fighting between 8 and 10 October done 671 dead and about 2,000 injured on Brazilian side against 1373 dead and more than 4,000 injured on Argentinean side. The Argentinean troops will withdraw to Concordia and Corrientes for the winter to be reconstituted and resupplied. October 17: US admiral Richmond K. Turner receives the order to prepare an attack against the Peruvian ports. The Staff fear that the Peruvian let the Japanese used their ports to attack the West Coast. October 21 : Admiral Turner arrived in La Libertad with is his Task Force (Galapagos Task Force) composed the USS Chicago (Admiral ship of the fleet), USS St Louis, USS Pensylvania, the 33rd Destroyer Division, the 18th et 16th Transport Divisions. This two transports division unload weapons and ammunitions for the Ecuadorian army. 5 USS Chicago October 24: Admiral Turner begin is strike on all useful Peruvian ports. October 26: The Galapagos Task Force strikes the port of Lima. After 16 hours of bombardments, the port is totally destroyed, the harbour is encumbered with wrecks, docks and warehouses are destroyed, lean Peruvian navy cease to exist. November 1 : U.S. base in Recife the 4th USN Cruiser Squadron commanded by Admiral Harold Rainnsford Stark, the fleet is composed by USS Augusta, USS Tuscaloosa, USS Wichita, USS Nashville, USS Cleveland, the 13th, 14th, 17th, 18th and 58th Destroyer Divisions and 17th, 19th, 21th, 29th Transport Division. American freighters unload enough Republic P-47 D to equip the new 2o Grupo de Caça. It’s also the arrival of the 1st U.S. Expeditionary Force composed of 13th « Blackcats » Armored Division, 92th « Buffalo Soldiers » Motorised Infantry Division, 93th « Colored » Motorised Infantry Division supported by artillery and engineering brigade. This will be the 1st expeditionary force under the command of General Costa è Silva. November 2: Hitler announces to Argentina President Ramon Castillo that he will send the Kriegsmarine’s U- Boot to protect Argentinean coast. November 11: The United States based the 412th Fighter Group in Quito; the Fighter Group used Bell P-39 AiraCobra. November 19: The Argentine Staff meets to discuss the opportunity to attack the Falklands. After six hours of discussion they decided to not attacked yet. Although the British don’t have the means to defend the Falklands, but the war on the continent didn’t goes very well, it would be stupid to divide its resources for the moment. In addition the 4th Cruiser Squadron is always a danger on the Argentinean east coast. 6 November 25: The modest Argentinean navy succeeds to sink or damage the entire skinny Brazilian submarines fleet. December 14: The eastern Paraguay is again fully under the control of the Paraguayan army and Brazil regained full control of the territories invaded by Argentina. December 17: Massive arrival of US air units in South America. The 88th Bombardment Group (B-25 Mitchell) reach is position in Paraguay. Porto Alegre receives 10th Fighter Group (Bell P-39), 21st and 309th Bombardment Group (B-25 Mitchell) and the 85th Bombardment Group (Vultee A-31 Vengeance) for Close-Air-Support.