Bring me the head of Diego Garcia...and the Mayor of Addu Atoll too!

[Onime No Kyo]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

***************Aboard B-26, So Sorry, June 21, 1942, Northern coast of Fiji**********



The plane comes in low over a ridge to bomb the Jap landing beach. She is second in line, some 600-700 yds behind the lead plane. As they approach the target, there is a quick serious of flashes as the bombs from the lead ship detonate in the jungle. After the call of "bombs away" Lt. Crosson, pilot of So Sorry, pulls back on the yoke and begins to climb out. They fly through a light cloud of debris until suddenly there is a loud thump and a cracking sound in front of the co-pilot position. Wet blood climbs the windscreen, which is now partly shattetred. After the terror subsides, it is apparent there is a severed arm still bearing a portion of a Japanese uniform caught firmly on a metal faring. the lifeless hand pounds the windscreen like Ricky Ricardo on a bongo drum...well.. to be honest, I'm not sure he is alive yet but you get the reference.

Co-pilot: SWEET JESUS! I'll try the wipers.

Lt. Gerald J. Crosson: Belay that! The damn thing still has a shoulder patch. That there, that arm pounding on our windscreen, that there is military intelligence.............

I thought the Japanese had collar tabs to indicate unit designation. [&:]

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: Onime No Kyo

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

***************Aboard B-26, So Sorry, June 21, 1942, Northern coast of Fiji**********



The plane comes in low over a ridge to bomb the Jap landing beach. She is second in line, some 600-700 yds behind the lead plane. As they approach the target, there is a quick serious of flashes as the bombs from the lead ship detonate in the jungle. After the call of "bombs away" Lt. Crosson, pilot of So Sorry, pulls back on the yoke and begins to climb out. They fly through a light cloud of debris until suddenly there is a loud thump and a cracking sound in front of the co-pilot position. Wet blood climbs the windscreen, which is now partly shattetred. After the terror subsides, it is apparent there is a severed arm still bearing a portion of a Japanese uniform caught firmly on a metal faring. the lifeless hand pounds the windscreen like Ricky Ricardo on a bongo drum...well.. to be honest, I'm not sure he is alive yet but you get the reference.

Co-pilot: SWEET JESUS! I'll try the wipers.

Lt. Gerald J. Crosson: Belay that! The damn thing still has a shoulder patch. That there, that arm pounding on our windscreen, that there is military intelligence.............

I thought the Japanese had collar tabs to indicate unit designation. [&:]

Shhhh....this is a PG website. Don't you make me change the story. It will be too gruesome to contemplate.

[Chickenboy]

Ah yes.  Reconnaisance by bombing / artillery.  I'd never known that's the way this worked.  [:D]

[Cap Mandrake]

**********June 22, 1942*************

Fiji: Suva suffered no attacks. There is a Jap surface group 40 mi E of Suva hugging the coast line but there is no landing made. Nadi was bombarded by a cruiser force with the DD's participating. They did little damage and 2 DD's were left smoking. 2nd Marine Def Bn is just shredding Jap AK's of Nadi. Jap counterbattery fire is getting a bit stronger at Nadi. Either some more guns are coming ashore or they are starting to recover disruption (most likely the latter).

B-26's attacked the ground troops at Nadi but suffered one loss from the carrier based Zeroes. A few Bettys got to the airfield but the damage was repaired. Another squadron of B-26's flew in from Samoa. The B-26's are the ticket because they can take some damage.

Enterprise, Hornet and Yorktown now have full decks as does Formidable. They will rendezvous SE of Samoa and move in without waiting for Wasp, which has flown off all her SBD's to augment the carriers on the scene.

A Jap sub ventured into the Pearl Harbor hex and hit a mine. I presume this is some kind of intelligence gathering effort. fighter strength at Pearl is shockingly low. I diverted some P-39's in transit from the West coast.

PS...the arm...that belonged to a LYB of 47th Naval Guard[;)]

[Cap Mandrake]

It's beginning to look like I didn't need to send 182nd back to Suva. [:)]

Does sending a Jap sub into the Pearl hex help their intel on ships in harbor (pretend I didn't read the rules)?

This could be a prelude to a raid on Pearl or more likely a look to see if I have any carriers at Pearl.

[Cap Mandrake]

Question: When do the self-propelled USN battering rams get explosive warheads?

[Cap Mandrake]

Plan Tango (Plus Size) will now include:

4 x CV (including Formidable)
86 x F4F/Martlet
71 x SBD
66 x TBF/Albacore

One cruiser group
One squadron of P-39 from Samoa (if they ever get uloaded)
Three transport groups escorted by Nevada and Pennsylvania bearing:

1st Marine
145th Reg
6th Marine
147th Reg
9th Marine
1 Bn amor
2 Bn M-10's
SouPac Air HQ

This will require the defeat or driving off of the Jap carriers, of course, so it is more ambitious.

[sprior]

4 x CV (including Formidable)

Why (including Formidable)? You make it sound like one of our shiny new bomb-proof carriers is some sort of disappoinment.

[sprior]

We here at Kandy House approve of Plan Tango.

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: sprior

We here at Kandy House approve of Plan Tango.

Wow...that is beautiful. Your bases are much more attractive than ours. I dare say we have base envy.

Without giving too much away in reagard to your position, where is that?

[sprior]

Kandy

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: sprior

4 x CV (including Formidable)

Why (including Formidable)? You make it sound like one of our shiny new bomb-proof carriers is some sort of disappoinment.

On the contrary, she was especially chosen for her shinyness.

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: sprior

4 x CV (including Formidable)

Why (including Formidable)? You make it sound like one of our shiny new bomb-proof carriers is some sort of disappoinment.

No, no, he's citing it as a key additive. Like when they advertise breakfast cereal "Now with melamine!" [:'(]

[sprior]

Formidable with the West's most effective anti-shipping plane so far - the bi-plane.

[Cap Mandrake]

Pongoes cover themselves with elderberry juice and safron and go native in downtown Kandy, Ceylon

It seems preparation has been let go because the entire Jap navy is in the South Pacific [:D]

[sprior]

It's called Garrison Duty, someone has to do it.

[Cap Mandrake]

**************Aboard HMS Formidable, June 22, 1942, 400 mi South of Tongatapu**********


<A group of sailors is hard at work polishing metal fittings on an AA gun>


Ordinary Telegraphist Baldwin: Petty Officer Telegraphist Benning, is this really a good idea, polishing the metal and all?

Petty Officer Telegraphist Benning: Whatever do you mean, Baldwin?


Ordinary Telegraphist Baldwin: Well, it's like this. I was wondering if Johnny Jap will have an easier time spotting the ship from the air, with all this shiny metal and all. Isn't that the whole point of camouflage?

Petty Officer Telegraphist Benning: The orders come from the top, Baldwin.

Ordinary Telegraphist Baldwin: Do you mean Jesus, then?

Petty Officer Telegraphist Benning: No.

Ordinary Telegraphist Baldwin: Ah, His Majesty, then?

Petty Officer Telegraphist Benning: No, of course not.

Ordinary Telegraphist Baldwin: Ah, the PM, then?

Petty Officer Telegraphist Benning: the Prime Minister has better things to do, Baldwin.

Ordinary Telegraphist Baldwin: First Sea Lord?

Petty Officer Telegraphist Benning: Bloody Hell, Baldwin! It's an order, just do it.

Ordinary Telegraphist Baldwin: Well, it's just that it seems they WANT us to be spotted.

Petty Officer Telegraphist Benning: Baldwin, do you EVER keep quiet?

Ordinary Telegraphist Baldwin: Funny, that's what me mum used to say?

Petty Officer Telegraphist Benning: Ah, she passed away then?

Ordinary Telegraphist Baldwin: Who?

Petty Officer Telegraphist Benning: Your mum.

Ordinary Telegraphist Baldwin: Me mum? No, she is fit as a fiddle.

Petty Officer Telegraphist Benning: But you said "used to". that implies the idea that something was an old habit that stopped in the past. I inferred from that she may have passed away. You should use the present tense if she is still alive.

Ordinary Telegraphist Baldwin: But she doesn't say it anymore.

Petty Officer Telegraphist Benning: Why not? It is still true.

Ordinary Telegraphist Baldwin: Nah, I never see her anymore since I've been in the Navy.

Petty Officer Telegraphist Benning: Why not? Don't you visit her on leave? It is your duty as her son.

Ordinary Telegraphist Baldwin: Are you daft, and listen to her nag me about talking too much the whole time?

Petty Officer Telegraphist Benning: Baldwin, just do your work.

Ordinary Telegraphist Baldwin: Funny, that's what me Dad used to say all the time.

Petty Officer Telegraphist Benning: I suppose you don't see him anymore either?

Ordinary Telegraphist Baldwin: Quite true.

Petty Officer Telegraphist Benning: Why not? You should try to make up with him.

Ordinary Telegraphist Baldwin: Me Dad? He's dead. Bloody alcoholic misanthrope. Good riddance.

Petty Officer Telegraphist Benning: Dear Lord.

Ordinary Telegraphist Baldwin: Amen.

Petty Officer Telegraphist Benning: Amen to what?

Ordinary Telegraphist Baldwin: You said "Dear Lord" so I said "amen"

Petty Officer Telegraphist Benning: But mine was simply an exclamation. One doesn't need to say "Amen"

Ordinary Telegraphist Baldwin: Suit yourself. I was just trying to make conversation.

Petty Officer Telegraphist Benning: Well don't.

Ordinary Telegraphist Baldwin: Don't what Petty Officer..............

[sprior]

You have waaaaaaaaaay too much time on your hands

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: sprior

You have waaaaaaaaaay too much time on your hands

[:D]

I was on hold with the IRS. They were helping other "customers". [;)]

BTW, I also Googled Kandy House hotel. Apparently quite nice (4 or 5 stars) but has too many "mossies" at night according to clients..

[sprior]

One mossie is too many mossies. Bastards.