From here to...well...it SEEMS like an eternity

[Moondawggie]

Good improvisation! Kind of like what Marlon Brando once mumbled in a movie they showed us in "Human Sexuality & Practices" class in Med School: "Get the butter!"

At any rate, Cap, after a fine weekend you've clearly had enough R&R. Get back to securing Burma STAT!

[Cap Mandrake]

*************60 Mi East of the Irrawaddy River along the Rangoon to Mandalay railway, 07:30, March 1, 1943**********

Brigadier Bastancherry, Indian 45th Brigade, surveys the positions of his lead batallion astride the railway. He is less than sanguine over his chances. Two full defeated Commonwealth divisions have been streaming past his position for hours. Many of those retreating have that "1000 mile stare". They will need time to reorganize and rest. That is his job, to slow the advance of the Burma Area Army, which has apparently not heard they are hopelessly cut off.

The Brigadier has a distinguished grey moustache though his jaw line sags a bit and he is a bit thicker around the waste now. Oh, come on, who are we kidding? His belt size is 4 inches more than he was the last time he saw battle. Ok, are you happy now? You couldn't give the man his dignity, at least?

well, anyway, he is part of the "60-60 pool", a group of retired brigadiers on retainer to His Majesty's Government. He says quietly to his aide, "We are in a bit of a spot, Major. I should have taken that gamekeeper bit in Scotland. I should like to have a chat with that chap from M&M Enterprises. Garrison duty, my arse."

[witpqs]

You would be surprised at the programming available on Mayan CCTV. Just the other day there was some guy and his girlfriend with a large bottle of canola oil...

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: witpqs

You would be surprised at the programming available on Mayan CCTV. Just the other day there was some guy and his girlfriend with a large bottle of canola oil...

Wow! Is that on standard cable or is that premium package?



The Jap are a clever foe. I need some advice to defeat a somewhat gamey, but undeniably clever, tactic they are using to stall the advance of 7th Armoured down the rail line toward Mandalay. The capture of Mandalay is very important for several reasons:

1) It is the major Jap base in Northern Burma and, now that Rangoon has fallen, is likely the main source of supply for the Burma Area Army, the great bulk of which is moving South chewing up Commonwealth units in detail.

2) The capture of Mandalay would allow the ferry-hop transfer of Spitfires from Imphal to Moulmein. Currently, they have to be crated in by sea.

3) The 2 infantry divisions and 7th Armoured North of Mandalay can join the fight to destroy the Burma Area Army.

4) It is really pissing me off

5) The Allied bridghead in Southern Burma is threatened and the PM will be royally ticked if his "more energetic remedy fails"

Here is a little vignette to illustrate the problem (imagine Mandalay is in the center of the hex [:)]):



*********Along the Burma Railway, 30 1/2 miles North of Mandalay, 09:20, February 28, 1943*************


After hours of assembly a huge column of Commonwealth vehicles begins to move South along the railway support roads. In the van are 11th Hussars/7th Armoured. A Lt. stands in the open hatch of his Humber which is first in line of the mighty column. He spots the glint of steel at the edge of a clearing up ahead. He taps the driver to stop and brings his field glasses up. He calls on his radio, "LINE ABREAST LADS...FIRE AT WILL!".

With a roar, a line of men emerge from the trees up ahead on the run, picks and shovels held aloft in a very threatening fashion...................

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

Wow! Is that on standard cable or is that premium package?

Oh, how humble of you! Premium, of course. Some kind of nature channel. [;)]

[Cap Mandrake]

February 24th. After a bit of sitzkrieg, I decide to send the 5th Indian and 18th Inf Div North across th Salween to cut off possible Jap retreat routes North and East of Rahaeng. Rangoon is discovered to have only a shell defence and falls to 5th Indian on the first attack. 500 Japs don't give up. Oh well.

Mandalay is getting regular air attention and the absence of Jap acitivity leads me to believe they are severely beat up. When 50,000 troops of the Burma Area Army confront British 18th Div and achieve a 1:1 attack, losing marginally, it is clear that intelligence is in error. 80th Brig/20th Indian is flown in to Rangoon from Imphal and 5th Ind Div is ordered to join the 18th. Troops headed toward Krung Thep turn around and head North again. On the 25th however, more units of BAR show up eject the 18th, despite a full effort by 10th air force to attrit the force. 27:1 odds [X(] Utoh

[Cap Mandrake]

Feb. 26....About 60,000 troops and 400+ tanks of the Burma Area Army shock attack the disorganized 18th Inf Div, but the veteran 5th Indian Div arrives just in time and the attack is repelled narrowly. 18th Inf. and 5th Indian are ordered back across the Irrawaddy toward Rangoon in order to get the defensive benefit of the river and join with 45th Brigade. The Burma Area Army will have none of and on the 27th, attacks with 110,000 troops (4 2/3 Divisions and 450 tanks). This time both the 5th Indian and 18th Inf crumble and are forced back.

Meanwhile, Admiral Tabpub makes references to Sun Tzu, gently suggesting I had better not lose the war and get the entire 12th Army trapped in Southern Burma and Siam (not necessarily in that order).

The support troops are ordered out of Rangoon, which is a trap. Two experienced Chinese divisions are landing at Moulmein and a tank brigade and and 26th Indian Div are ordered back from the Kra Peninsula. The offensive has turned over to a worrisome defense. Also, the RN carriers are in harm's way guarding convoys headed into and out of Moulmein because Andaman is still a threat. I have two divisions coming from Karachi and two brigades coming from Oz...but that is a long run. The air forces will do their job if the weather is good but I just don't know if the Burma Area Army is going to run out of juice before they attack Moulmein or Rahaeng, which now seems inevitable.

[Cap Mandrake]

***********Along the Burma Railway, 30 1/2 miles North of Mandalay, 07:45, March 1, 1943*********

11th Hussars are once again fully fueled and have been freshly suppled with ammunition and Earl Grey. Lt. Sisyphus surveys the same terrain he was tasked to cross on the 25th and the 26th and the 27th and the 28th. Their orders are the same today as they have been for the last 4 days, "Take Mandalay!". The Lt. is about to order the column ahead when he hears the unmistakable sound of metal treads. "Tanks lads! Bring up the 6-Lbr!", he calls. Just then a Kubota bulldozer emerges from the cover, charging forward at 1 1/2 mph. The blade is half raised to protect the operator. A long bamboo pole projects forward, a satchel of some sort suspended at the end. The Lt. corrects his warning, "It's 32nd Imperial Japanese Army Airfield Engineers again lads...KAMIKAZES!"

[Cap Mandrake]

**********12th Army HQ, Tavoy, March 1, 1943***********


Col. R. McNally, 12th Army Geographic and Cultural Liason Officer: <stands in front of a large pull down map of SE Asia (or as number 2 would call it, South and East Asia) Men, I've been given the mission of improving the pronunciation of local place names among the officers and men of 12th Army. This has two key purposes. One is to improve the cooperation with indigents who are likely to be more responsive if we show some cultural awareness AND, more importantly to prevent confusion in regard to orders..<a loud snoring can be heard at the back of the room..the Col. stops and points his riding crop> You there..yes you..wake that officer up. Shameful!..Where was I? Oh yes. I want this to be interesting. I don't want to think you are all here purely because you were threatened with duty up North of the Salween. You are threatened with that, of course, but I want you to put it out of your mind for now. I want this to be FUN! <smiles broadly, but loses his smile quickly when he sees the level of interest in the room> Hmmm...Suppose I just point to things on the map and have members of the audience respond. Alright..here is an important one. <points at city in the Irrawaddy Delta?


Class: RANGOON

Col. R. McNally, 12th Army Geographic and Cultural Liason Officer: Close..try Yan BOHN

Class:[/b]RANGOON

Col. R. McNally, 12th Army Geographic and Cultural Liason Officer:Better...Yan BOHN

Class:[/b] RANGOON

Col. R. McNally, 12th Army Geographic and Cultural Liason Officer:Excellent. I can see we have a good group. Let's see <begins to point to Myitkyina> Ohh..perhaps not. How about this?

Pvt. in back: TAVOY, sir.

Col. R. McNally, 12th Army Geographic and Cultural Liason Officer:EXCELLENT! And this?

Pvt. in back: Phu-nohm-pen-hu

Col. R. McNally, 12th Army Geographic and Cultural Liason Officer:Very close, but more accurately, Puh-nom-pen. The "h" is silent. How about this <points to small town in SE Siam, Pisanuloke>

Pvt. in back: That's Piss-on-yu-bloke, sir.

Col. R. McNally, 12th Army Geographic and Cultural Liason Officer: That is something I haven't heard before. From where do you get the "b" sound?

Pvt. in back: That's easy sir. The "b" ISN'T silent.

[scott64]

How are you making those cool maps?&nbsp;[:)]

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: scott1964

How are you making those cool maps? [:)]

Subchaser's map mod (stock map)without hexes blown up about 250% for clarity then "ink sketched" and desaturated. It also looks cool even without magnification. Here is New Guinea run through the same process (nearly). The top 2/3 has a fake paper texture to look like ink and watercolor, but the bottom 1/3 looks good too. I like the "period" look. This image has lost a little with two .jpg filters.

[JeffroK]

Looks pretty, but its a pity it keeps the tracks to Milne Bay & Lae

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: JeffK

Looks pretty, but its a pity it keeps the tracks to Milne Bay & Lae

Well...it is a computer not a magic wand [:)]

I suppose one could do something similar with Andrew Brown's map.

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake
The Jap are a clever foe. I need some advice to defeat a somewhat gamey, but undeniably clever, tactic they are using to stall the advance of 7th Armoured down the rail line toward Mandalay.

I've been mulling this over. Have you considered areal spraying of canola oil to ease the passage?

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: witpqs

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake
The Jap are a clever foe. I need some advice to defeat a somewhat gamey, but undeniably clever, tactic they are using to stall the advance of 7th Armoured down the rail line toward Mandalay.

I've been mulling this over. Have you considered areal spraying of canola oil to ease the passage?

Yes, I see your analogy. I keep thrusting but all I encounter is Sun Tzu's the friction of war. Still, I think canola oil would be gamey as I doubt it was even "invented" in 1943. Perhaps some superheated Crisco?

Here is what I think he is doing. There are 4 or 5 low value units left in Mandalay. On day 1, the Pusan Comfort Woman's Bn. is ordered forward. On day 2 the Sasebo 234th Boy Scout Troop is ordered forward. On Day 3, the 4th Emperor's Prison Detachment is ordered forward and so on and so on. The Comfort Woman's Bn. arrives at the target hex and day 3 and the Boy Scouts are half way there. The Comfort Woman's Bn. is sent packing by a 2343:1 shock attack but for some reason 7th Armoured refuses to pursue. I order the whole column forward but the next day the Boy Scouts come charging across the clearing and we are back to hex one.

I think a single company of paratroops could take Mandalay now and they would certainly put an end to this funny business, but, alas, they are being saved for the ETO. I am hitting the Mandalay ground troops by air hoping that one attack will slow one of his units slotted to move that turn. Bloody annoying really.

[Alfred]

Cap Mandrake,
&nbsp;
The ETO can wait, you should immediately use those paras on Mandalay.&nbsp; However, assuming that paperwork will prevent the efficacious use of paras, how about these brain storming ideas (no guarantee or warranty extended as to their usefulness).
&nbsp;
1.&nbsp; Bomb enemy resource centres in Burma back to the stone age.&nbsp; Without supplies you may slow down the entire Mandalay enemy stack rather than just 1 LCU by ground attack.
&nbsp;
2.&nbsp; Approach Mandalay from the east to outflank and enter the city.&nbsp; If he has a weak Mandalay garrison, then a even a weak Allied unit approaching along the railway line from the east will suffice.
&nbsp;
3.&nbsp; Pull out of Tavoy et al and redeploy to oppose the Burma Area Army schwerpunckt and stop it cold.&nbsp; Once the Rangoon front is stabilised you can then&nbsp;redeploy to Rahaeng and move either north to attack Mandalay from another direction or move south on Bangkok.
&nbsp;
Alfred

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: Alfred

Cap Mandrake,

The ETO can wait, you should immediately use those paras on Mandalay.  However, assuming that paperwork will prevent the efficacious use of paras, how about these brain storming ideas (no guarantee or warranty extended as to their usefulness).

I would love to have the Red Devils but annoyingly agreeable Eisenhower chap has them. Do you suppose you coudl have a word with the PM?

1.  Bomb enemy resource centres in Burma back to the stone age.  Without supplies you may slow down the entire Mandalay enemy stack rather than just 1 LCU by ground attack.

Will try hitting pagan and Taung Gyi (or however you spell that) when the weather clears. Am already hitting Mandalay. Most of the air effort has been directed at the Burma Area Army

2.  Approach Mandalay from the east to outflank and enter the city.  If he has a weak Mandalay garrison, then a even a weak Allied unit approaching along the railway line from the east will suffice.

Worth a try but I think they will have to cross the jungle. I sent the Caribineers (or however you spell that). I fear they will be reset just like the units trying to move south. This turn no enemy troops moved into the hex North of Mandalay. perhaps he is having trouble finding volunteers.

3.  Pull out of Tavoy et al and redeploy to oppose the Burma Area Army schwerpunckt and stop it cold.  Once the Rangoon front is stabilised you can then redeploy to Rahaeng and move either north to attack Mandalay from another direction or move south on Bangkok.

Well the 12th Army HEADQUARTERS is in Tavoy...but as for line infantry.....I will see what I can find. The boys on the Kra Peninsula are coming back.

[Cap Mandrake]

**********12th Army HQ, Tavoy, March 2, 1943***********

Col. R. McNally, 12th Army Geographic and Cultural Liason Officer: Splendid! I see we have a good turnout today. I'd like to start today with cultural and religious proscritptions against certain foods. We had quite a nasty incident just this week with some really quite tasty tandouri Taj Mahals served by M&M catering at the capture of Bandou celebration. The local Imam was aghast when he learned they were made from pork "shoulder" or some such oddity. This is exactly the kind of error.....<a Captain with a sweat stained tunic enters abruptly>

Diaphoretic Captain: I am sorry sir. we have orders to move out presently for Moulmein. The trucks are outside. <he speaks now to the "crowd"> You can draw your weapons and ammo in the truck.

Col. R. McNally, 12th Army Geographic and Cultural Liason Officer: Captain are you sure? What about the cultural lesson.

Diaphoretic Captain: Sir, from what I know if we don't stop the Jap at Moulmein you will be giving lessons in a POW camp.

Col. R. McNally, 12th Army Geographic and Cultural Liason Officer: Oh dear. On whose authority are we to move?

Diaphoretic Captain: This comes right from the top, sir.

Col. R. McNally, 12th Army Geographic and Cultural Liason Officer: Do you mean God, Captain.

Diaphoretic Captain: Nearly sir, it from SEAC, Admiral Sir Lord Louis Mounbot...err..I mean Mountbatten <a sargeant enters the room and calls to the Captain>

Sargeant: Sir, it's the band. The insist on bringing their instruments.......

[Cap Mandrake]

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[Cap Mandrake]

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