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

[sprior]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

Weasel: All allied vessels escape damage. Baring some funny business, the Port Headland landing force should be one day out.

[Lessons learned from watching too many horror films on] "Whew! Only one day away from from landing! Everything's going to be fine, just fine. Yessirree...say, what's that buzzing stuff in the sky over there?" [lessons learned from watching too many horror films off]

unfortunately we don't have any large breasted teenage girls to send ahead of us to make sure the coast is clear.

[zuluhour]

Jamie Lee Curtis [X(]

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: sprior

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

Weasel: All allied vessels escape damage. Baring some funny business, the Port Headland landing force should be one day out.

[Lessons learned from watching too many horror films on] "Whew! Only one day away from from landing! Everything's going to be fine, just fine. Yessirree...say, what's that buzzing stuff in the sky over there?" [lessons learned from watching too many horror films off]

unfortunately we don't have any large breasted teenage girls to send ahead of us to make sure the coast is clear.

What about the Tannanese girls from the Bali Hai Club?

Oh..wait..you said "large breasted"

[Cap Mandrake]

...

[Cap Mandrake]

Here is the Betty attack on the surface group at PH. They get chewed up pretty bad by the F4F's and a few P-38's flying from Carnavon but they do hit Cornwall, wich is not grievously damaged.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Port Hedland at 57,129

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 16
G4M1 Betty x 15



Allied aircraft
P-38F Lightning x 4
F4F-4 Wildcat x 39


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 3 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 5 destroyed, 4 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
BB Ramillies
BB Royal Sovereign
CA Cornwall, Torpedo hits 1

[Cap Mandrake]

First attack on the ASW group near Exmouth. There is bleed-over CAP from the carriers 120 miles to the SW [;)]

Morning Air attack on TF, near Exmouth at 50,128

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 17 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 27
B5N2 Kate x 13
D3A1 Val x 13



Allied aircraft
Martlet II x 5
F4F-4 Wildcat x 15


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 3 destroyed
D3A1 Val: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Martlet II: 1 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat: 2 destroyed

Allied Ships
DD Patterson, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
DD Selfridge, Bomb hits 2, on fire
DD Gridley
DE Parrott

[Cap Mandrake]

Some Kates come in without escort.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Exmouth at 50,128

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 22 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
B5N2 Kate x 9



Allied aircraft
Martlet II x 2
F4F-4 Wildcat x 15


Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 6 destroyed

[Cap Mandrake]

Then more Kates show up with escort and it isn't so funny.

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Exmouth at 50,128

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 17 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 27
B5N2 Kate x 25
D3A1 Val x 12



Allied aircraft
Martlet II x 1
F4F-4 Wildcat x 24


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
DD Gridley, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DE Parrott, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
DD Patterson, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Selfridge, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

[Cap Mandrake]

..

[Chickenboy]

Alright-color me surprised. Not.

What are you doing with the CVs and the invasion forces. Strongly recommend withdrawal, lest that division be sunk en masse.

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

Alright-color me surprised. Not.

What are you doing with the CVs and the invasion forces. Strongly recommend withdrawal, lest that division be sunk en masse.

That will be the trivial decision of Admiral Lord Sprior. That is why he gets the big bucks. [:)]

I tend to agree with you. I think the best thing with only 1000 men ashore is heave anchor and move 5-6 West (about 3 hexes ENE of Exmouth) with the entire landing force, the supporting BB's and the carriers and then have the other carrier group join them there. The other landing forces can divert to Carnavon where we can post a good CAP.

There are several advantages to accepting battle ENE of Emouth:

1) All 6 carriers are united

2) The amphibious group and BB's will be protected

3) We can LRCAP from Carnavon (P-38's and Beaufighters)

4) If we lose a deck or two or three, the air complement can recover at Carnavon (maybe)

5) Damaged Allied carriers are closer to a good port

6) Most of the Netties are out of the equation

I we win the battle...Huzzah! If the Jap carriers are still extant,
then the amphib groups retire to Geraldton.

[Cap Mandrake]

Of course, in the real world, leaving 1000 men ashore at Port Headland would be a PR disaster.

On the other hand, it couldn't POSSIBLY be any worse that Attackwatch.com [:D]

[Cap Mandrake]

I should hasten to add that I tried to talk Admiral Lord Sprior into uniting the carriers earlier and it turned out he ambushed quite a few zeroes and kates with his Western group while they were attacking a couple of DD's.

Score one for us (even though the boys on the DD's may not see it that way)[;)]

Admiral Lord Sprior has two copies of the "timing gene"

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

Of course, in the real world, leaving 1000 men ashore at Port Headland would be a PR disaster.

Why? They are in Australia, after all!

[sprior]

Okay, this is the plan:

What he said. The entire PH force will withdraw to the west, the Broome force carriers will meet with them there. The Broome force and floating reserve will retire to the south and await the outcome of the battle.

[sprior]

Meanwhile, elsewhere in the world:

Morning Air attack on Changsha , at 82,52

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-Ic Sally x 13
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 22
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 12
Ki-48-Ib Lily x 17
Ki-49-Ia Helen x 27



Allied aircraft
P-43A-1 Lancer x 12
Hurricane IIa Trop x 14


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 11 destroyed
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 1 destroyed
Ki-48-Ib Lily: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
Ki-49-Ia Helen: 5 damaged

[sprior]

And today's air losses:

[sprior]

The capture of Sian didn't get them very much, the place is trashed:

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

Alright-color me surprised. Not.

What are you doing with the CVs and the invasion forces. Strongly recommend withdrawal, lest that division be sunk en masse.

That will be the trivial decision of Admiral Lord Sprior. That is why he gets the big bucks. [:)]

I tend to agree with you. I think the best thing with only 1000 men ashore is heave anchor and move 5-6 West (about 3 hexes ENE of Exmouth) with the entire landing force, the supporting BB's and the carriers and then have the other carrier group join them there. The other landing forces can divert to Carnavon where we can post a good CAP.

There are several advantages to accepting battle ENE of Emouth:

1) All 6 carriers are united

2) The amphibious group and BB's will be protected

3) We can LRCAP from Carnavon (P-38's and Beaufighters)

4) If we lose a deck or two or three, the air complement can recover at Carnavon (maybe)

5) Damaged Allied carriers are closer to a good port

6) Most of the Netties are out of the equation

I we win the battle...Huzzah! If the Jap carriers are still extant,
then the amphib groups retire to Geraldton.

I tend to likee your plan, Cap'n (and Lord Admiral Sprior, of course).

Sure you won't take my bet beforehand though? Heck, I'll go even odds with you now.

One question though: What happens if Admiral JJ doesn't take your 'fight us here now bait'? What if they sprint SSW to position themselves due West or WSW of Carnavon?

From this position, your carriers would be unable to make the intercept and your slower troop transports (and escorts) would come under fire before they have a chance to clear the area to the South.

What is the DL of your 33rd ID troop transport TF? Do you think that JJ knows there's a division afloat out there to go after?

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: sprior

Meanwhile, elsewhere in the world:

Morning Air attack on Changsha , at 82,52

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-Ic Sally x 13
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 22
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 12
Ki-48-Ib Lily x 17
Ki-49-Ia Helen x 27



Allied aircraft
P-43A-1 Lancer x 12
Hurricane IIa Trop x 14


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 11 destroyed
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 1 destroyed
Ki-48-Ib Lily: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
Ki-49-Ia Helen: 5 damaged

Ouch! Nice intercept what.