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

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

Amen.

Amen.

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

I had to cut a 22.5K personal check to the source of the "giant sucking sound" in Washington yesterday.[:@]

/annoying JFB mode on/

Captain Mandrake-san. (bows)

Don't forget the giant sucking sound in Sacramento while writing check. (bows again)

Have nice day. (bows yet again in redundant manner)

/annoying JFB mode off/

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

What did that accomplish?

Well, it gave away any semblance of surprise landing.

Oh, you meant in a good way? [:'(]

[Cap Mandrake]

The IRS are mere kittens compared to the Franchise Tax Board. I am here to tell you.

JJ defence in the air over Darwin is hard on Allied heavies. They also threw down a minefield in the passage NE of Dariwn. It's like they don't want to lose.

Looks like the BB's will have to wait while we send up some DMS to clear it lest they get hung up in daylight within range from Kopeang.

Admiral Lord SPrior;

My thoughts. We give the B-24's a rest today over Darwin and instead send them to Wyndham where I think the Tojos are flying from. There may not be any CAP. The 17's at Merauke can either rest or fly over Katherine.

Then we stage a fighter sweep over Darwin with some P-38's than can fly in to Gove, the Beaufighters at Gove and some F4F's (perhaps two squadrons) from the carriers.

The carriers could stand off 8 hexes from Darwin (near Gove). This would prevent a costly antishipping attack against the CAP hell over Darwin but allow the F4F's to sweep. The BB's could join the carriers and wait for the minefield to be cleared. I think we can send some DMS at night and do it. We can also see what we can accomplish without the carrier F4F's. When Gove is at 2x supply we can sweep with Marine F4F's from there.

I would also advocate for an attack at Katherine. British 2nd is at 80% of its monthly supply need. I think it might work but your call. If you want to try we can dump a bunch of bombs on them today with the 17's.

[House Stark]

Are you sure that US carrier planes can sweep at 8 hexes? Or does the 7 hex limit on US carrier strikes not affect sweeps?

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: House Stark

Are you sure that US carrier planes can sweep at 8 hexes? Or does the 7 hex limit on US carrier strikes not affect sweeps?

No, I am not sure that they will fly a sweep at 8 hexes. Perhaps someone who has read the manual can comment.[:)]

If that is the case we could move to 7 hexes and chop the attack range on the bombers down to 6....a somewhat dangerous proposition if LYB carriers were to show up.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

I would also advocate for an attack at Katherine. British 2nd is at 80% of its monthly supply need. I think it might work but your call. If you want to try we can dump a bunch of bombs on them today with the 17's.

Somehow, I don't think the 20% supply delivery the British 2nd is waiting for includes having bombs dumped on them ...[:'(]

Re: the mines, can't you get someone to arrange a contract with the local native pearl/mine divers to clear them??

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

I would also advocate for an attack at Katherine. British 2nd is at 80% of its monthly supply need. I think it might work but your call. If you want to try we can dump a bunch of bombs on them today with the 17's.

Somehow, I don't think the 20% supply delivery the British 2nd is waiting for includes having bombs dumped on them ...[:'(]

Bloody ingrates!

Re: the mines, can't you get someone to arrange a contract with the local native pearl/mine divers to clear them??

I just thought of something. It's right next to Bathurst. It's probably that whiskey-swizzling two-timer O'Brien. [:-]

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

I would also advocate for an attack at Katherine. British 2nd is at 80% of its monthly supply need. I think it might work but your call. If you want to try we can dump a bunch of bombs on them today with the 17's.

Somehow, I don't think the 20% supply delivery the British 2nd is waiting for includes having bombs dumped on them ...[:'(]

Bloody ingrates!

Re: the mines, can't you get someone to arrange a contract with the local native pearl/mine divers to clear them??

I just thought of something. It's right next to Bathurst. It's probably that whiskey-swizzling two-timer O'Brien. [:-]

[:D]
And just what do you think is wrong about whiskey-swizzling?

[Cap Mandrake]

I found a new resource for AE questions.......


Me: "Siri, will the F4F fly 8 hex sweep missions from Allied carriers in December '42"?

Siri: Well, do you have drop tanks enabled?

[Cap Mandrake]

So there is this creek near our building that is downstream from a reservoir and the county is using water releases into the stream to recharge the aquifer. For some strange reason it doesnt run all day <Chinatown sound track music here>. Anyway, it has rained so the water relase is quite regular and the creekbed is green with vegetation. When I came in to work the flow was off so the algae on the creekbed was exposed. 4 hrs later I come back, the water is running briskly and a foot deep in places.

There are 2 egrets and 15 ducks. The ducks are swimming against the current dipping thier heads underwater to get at the algae. It was quite an amazing scene. Instant riparian habitat.


Then I start thinking why don't the stupid ducks come back when the water isnt running and just walk around and eat the algae without getting wet?

[moore4807]

[:D][:D][:D]  "Ummm... Then my good man we couldn't say water off a ducks back!" [:D][:D][:D]

But since you mentioned it - there is a water retention pond near me that is usually empty or near empty, We have a large duck and geese population in the area, but whenever it rains heavy you will see the full retention pond wall to wall with ducks and geese diving and bobbing... I wondered what are they going for thats not there when its empty?   Inquiring minds?

PS. Siri? You know Tom Cruise's daughter?[:)]

[BBfanboy]

You spend a lot of time watching ducks? You aren't gonna go all Tony Soprano on us when they leave, are you??

[moore4807]

Hmmm, ducks or people, actually its at a stoplight, (the ever mother luvin terminal forever traffic light) and I get bored looking at the road or the boogie this winner in the car next to me&nbsp;just picked and is beaming at it like its a winning lottery ticket....so the ducks&nbsp;usually win [;)]
Apologies to all the sensitive people out there...[:)]

[Moondawggie]

[quote]ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

So there is this creek near our building that is downstream from a reservoir and the county is using water releases into the stream to recharge the aquifer. For some strange reason it doesnt run all day...

Then I start thinking why don't the stupid ducks come back when the water isnt running and just walk around and eat the algae without getting wet?

[/quote
Uhh, maybe the ducks and egrets are eating invertebrates and small fish in the water that come out into the open when water washes down in the outflow from the pond? I'm pretty sure they don't eat algae (Wikipedia makes no mention of it, so it must be true!).

Hey, when it comes to the AMT, just repeat the following: "Paying my fair share. Fairness. Hope. Change. Spreading the wealth around. Making the 1% pay."

There, there: Don't you feel better now? [;)]

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake
Then I start thinking why don't the stupid ducks come back when the water isnt running and just walk around and eat the algae without getting wet?

Because rotting algae is a rich in Clostridium botulinum spores and preformed toxin. Fly larvae that eat said algae are quite the concentrators of the toxin. Poor ducks can't help themselves sometimes-a big wriggling maggot gets the better of them.

Kind of like marriage. You realize you're poisoned only after sampling the tasty morsel*.


*The alliterative here was for humorous purposes only. I worship the sacrament of marriage and love my wife dearly [looks over shoulder at wife tapping foot...]

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake
Then I start thinking why don't the stupid ducks come back when the water isnt running and just walk around and eat the algae without getting wet?

Because rotting algae is a rich in Clostridium botulinum spores and preformed toxin. Fly larvae that eat said algae are quite the concentrators of the toxin. Poor ducks can't help themselves sometimes-a big wriggling maggot gets the better of them.

Kind of like marriage. You realize you're poisoned only after sampling the tasty morsel*.


*The alliterative here was for humorous purposes only. I worship the sacrament of marriage and love my wife dearly [looks over shoulder at wife tapping foot...]

That would be an allusion not an alliterative, you boisterously babbling buffoon*.

* That would be an alliterative and is offered for illustrative purposes only. Any resemblance to the light-saber wielding poultry youth who is enamored by tropical diseases is purely coincidental and no such inference is implied, either intentionally or accidentally. Furthermore, the reader is advised to avoid ingesting rotting algae and to altogether avoid maggots that have dined on same.

[sprior]

Looks like someone isn't plotting their minefields accurately in accordance with international law:

TF 1 encounters mine field at Port Hedland (57,129)

Japanese Ships
SS I-123, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

TF 1 encounters mine field at Port Hedland (57,129)

Japanese Ships
SS I-123, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

TF 357 encounters mine field at Port Hedland (57,129)

Japanese Ships
SS I-154, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

[sprior]

At Corunna Downs:

Ground combat at Corunna Downs (57,131)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 781 troops, 0 guns, 39 vehicles, Assault Value = 28

Defending force 637 troops, 23 guns, 6 vehicles, Assault Value = 36

Allied adjusted assault: 11

Japanese adjusted defense: 9

Allied assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 0

Combat modifiers
Defender: preparation(-), supply(-)
Attacker: leaders(-)

Japanese ground losses:
73 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Allied ground losses:
14 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Assaulting units:
2/10th Armoured Regiment

Defending units:
Yokosuka Assault SNLF /1
31st Fld AA Gun Co

[sprior]

And at Changsha

Ground combat at Changsha (82,52)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 12446 troops, 117 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1877

Defending force 75783 troops, 468 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2805

Japanese adjusted assault: 212

Allied adjusted defense: 4143

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 19 (fort level 5)

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), leaders(+), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
3530 casualties reported
Squads: 6 destroyed, 297 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 17 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 27 disabled
Guns lost 22 (1 destroyed, 21 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
156 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 30 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled


Assaulting units:
9th Armored Car Co
3rd Division
28th Division
2nd Ind.Mixed Regiment
40th Division
51st Recon Regiment
102nd Infantry Regiment
23rd Tank Regiment
58th Infantry Regiment
11th Army
1st Army
51st Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion

Defending units:
53rd Chinese Corps
26th Chinese Corps
74th Chinese Corps
73rd Chinese Corps
37th Chinese Corps
20th Chinese Corps
87th Chinese Corps
56th Chinese Corps
5th Construction Regiment
29th Group Army
57th AT Gun Regiment
17th Chinese Base Force
1st Artillery Regiment
30th Group Army
19th Group Army
27th Group Army
7th Artillery Regiment
9th War Area
56th AT Gun Regiment